Venezuelan Assembly Approves Controversial Amnesty Law for Political Prisoners

On Thursday, Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law that could release hundreds of political prisoners detained for opposing the government. However, the law explicitly excludes those prosecuted or convicted of promoting armed actions against the country, a category that could include opposition figures such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado.

The bill was signed by interim President Delcy Rodriguez at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Addressing the law, Rodriguez emphasized the importance of forgiveness, stating, “One must know how to ask for forgiveness and one must also know how to receive forgiveness.”

One of the first beneficiaries of the law was former National Assembly vice president Juan Pablo Guanipa, an ally of Machado, who was released after nearly nine months in prison and under house arrest. Guanipa, posting on social media with Venezuela’s flag, called for all other political prisoners to be freed, criticizing the law as a “flawed document” that leaves some behind bars.

The amnesty is retroactive to 1999, covering major political events including the 2002 coup against former leader Hugo Chavez, the 2002 oil strike, and the 2024 riots against Maduro’s disputed reelection. While it has brought hope to families, critics fear the law could be used selectively to pardon government supporters while denying freedom to genuine prisoners of conscience.

Article 9 of the law excludes individuals involved in armed actions or foreign-backed efforts against Venezuela’s sovereignty. UN human rights experts urged the government to restrict the law strictly to victims of human rights violations.

According to the NGO Foro Penal, around 450 prisoners have been released since Maduro’s ouster, yet more than 600 remain incarcerated. Families and activists have been holding vigils and hunger strikes demanding their release, reflecting ongoing concerns over human rights and reconciliation in the country.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s government has strengthened ties with the United States, with top officials meeting US military representatives to discuss strategic and security cooperation, including access to Venezuela’s oil resources.

The amnesty law represents a critical test for Venezuela’s interim government and its commitment to national reconciliation, as observers watch to see whether it will genuinely foster political freedom or serve selective political interests.