CARACAS (Azat TV) – Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday announced a new amnesty bill that could pave the way for the release of hundreds of political prisoners, including high-profile opposition figures like former governor Juan Pablo Guanipa. The announcement, made just weeks after Rodríguez assumed the presidency following the seizure of former President Nicolás Maduro, signals a significant shift in the country’s political landscape, long marked by detentions of opposition leaders, journalists, and human rights activists.
The measure, a long-standing demand of the United States-backed opposition, was unveiled by President Rodríguez during a televised event attended by top government and military officials. She stated that the ruling party-controlled National Assembly would urgently consider the bill, expressing hope that it would “heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism” and “redirect justice and coexistence among Venezuelans.”
Amnesty Bill Targets Political Detainees, Excludes Serious Crimes
While specific details of the bill were not immediately released, President Rodríguez indicated that the “general amnesty law” would cover the “entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present.” She clarified that individuals convicted of severe crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, corruption, or human rights violations would not be eligible for relief under the proposed law. This distinction aims to address concerns about potential impunity while focusing on those detained for political activities.
The Venezuelan prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal estimates that 711 people are currently held in detention facilities across the South American nation for political reasons, with 183 already sentenced. Among the prominent opposition members detained after the 2024 presidential election and still imprisoned are former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, lawyer Perkins Rocha, and Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and a close ally of Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado.
Helicoide Prison to Transform Amid Human Rights Concerns
In a related development, President Rodríguez also announced the closure of Helicoide, a notorious prison in Caracas where independent organizations have repeatedly documented instances of torture and other human rights abuses. The facility is slated for transformation into a sports, social, and cultural center for police and local communities. This move comes as relatives of prisoners, gathered outside Helicoide, livestreamed Rodríguez’s speech, chanting “Freedom! Freedom!” and expressing relief, as reported by OPB.
The announcement follows an earlier government plan in January to release a significant number of prisoners as a goodwill gesture. Since the Jan. 8 announcement, Foro Penal has tallied 302 releases. However, relatives and human rights groups have criticized the slow pace of these releases, with the human rights group Provea calling out the lack of transparency and the “trickle” pace. Provea emphasized that while freeing those detained is urgent, the amnesty should not be seen as a pardon, as these individuals were “arbitrarily imprisoned for exercising rights protected by international human rights instruments.”
Opposition and International Reactions to Venezuelan Amnesty
Opposition leader María Corina Machado quickly responded to the announcement, stating that the actions were not taken “voluntarily, but rather in response to pressure from the US government.” She highlighted that political detentions in Venezuela have ranged from a month to 23 years, underscoring the severity of the regime’s repressive apparatus. Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, welcomed a general amnesty, provided it is inclusive, non-discriminatory, does not lead to impunity, and helps dismantle political persecution.
The United States Department of State confirmed that all known U.S. citizens held in Venezuelan prisons had been released on Friday. It also announced the imminent arrival of Laura Dogu, the new top U.S. diplomat, in Caracas on Saturday, signaling continued international engagement with Venezuela’s evolving political situation.
The announcement of a comprehensive amnesty bill, particularly one that could lead to the release of figures like Juan Pablo Guanipa, represents a critical juncture for Venezuela, potentially easing internal political tensions and addressing long-standing human rights concerns under a new de facto leadership.