Venezuela’s new amnesty law gets a chilly response from the opposition and detainees’ families
The law covers politically motivated offenses since 1999 and excludes serious crimes; 2,742 detainees are eligible, with 321 still imprisoned, Foro Penal said.
- On Thursday, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez signed the amnesty law granting general, full amnesty for politically driven crimes since 1999, including the 2024 presidential election and 2025 legislative and regional elections.
- Following last month's U.S. military raid in Caracas, Venezuelan authorities, who long denied holding political prisoners, had already freed detainees beginning Jan. 8, Foro Penal says.
- Trial courts must decide each amnesty request within 15 days, and Foro Penal says 2,186 people are eligible, with 321 in custody and 2,186 released under conditions.
- Opposition members, prisoners' rights groups and relatives gave a lukewarm reception Friday, while Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, said the core problem persists and families appealed to Laura Dogu, U.S. top diplomat in Venezuela.
- The law excludes people convicted of human rights violations, war crimes, murder, drug trafficking or corruption, and María Corina Machado and Magalli Meda reject it; Jhon Hader Betancurt remains ineligible due to military rebellion charges.
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Venezuela's Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence (Full Translation)
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On February 19, 2026, Venezuela’s National Assembly passed the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence. The law grants a “general and full” amnesty for offenses committed between January 1, 1999, and the date the law came into effect, provided they are linked to the violent events expressly listed in the text and are not related to crimes connected to assassinations, human rights abuses, drug trafficking, or corruptio…
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Venezuela’s new amnesty law gets a chilly response from the opposition and detainees’ families
Venezuela has passed a new amnesty law, but some families of political detainees and prisoners' rights groups are reacting with mixed feelings.
Venezuela's new amnesty law has a chilly response from opposition and detainees' families
CARACAS, Venezuela — Members of Venezuela 's opposition, prisoners' rights groups and relatives of people long detained for political reasons gave a lukewarm reception Friday to an amnesty measure expected to free hundreds of activists and human rights defenders.
The effectiveness of the rule brings hope to relatives of political prisoners as it is expected to speed up the release of hundreds of detainees. Human rights sectors point out that it is “insufficient.” Some sections of the law are doubtful and exclusive. “It has been an act of greatness. We must know how to apologize,” said Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Read more
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