Venezuela’s Amnesty Bill: Potential Freedom Looms for Hundreds of Political Prisoners

Venezuela is on the brink of a significant political shift as an amnesty bill could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners, including opposition figures, journalists, and human rights advocates. This announcement was made on Friday by the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.

This development marks another step in a series of concessions by Rodríguez following the January 3 capture of Venezuela’s former leader, Nicolás Maduro, by the United States.

Addressing an assembly of justices, magistrates, ministers, military officials, and other government leaders, Rodríguez stated that the National Assembly, dominated by the ruling party, would soon deliberate on the proposed bill, as reported by The Associated Press.

“Let this law be a means to mend the scars left by political conflicts driven by violence and extremism,” she declared in a pre-recorded television message, according to the AP. “Let it be a catalyst for restoring justice in our nation and fostering peaceful coexistence among Venezuelans.”

On the same day, families of individuals believed to be imprisoned for political reasons held a protest by chaining themselves in front of the Zona 7 Bolivarian National Police detention center in Caracas. This demonstration coincided with Rodríguez’s announcement of the amnesty bill. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

Rodriguez said the amnesty law would cover the “entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present,” and that those incarcerated for murder, drug trafficking, corruption or human rights violations would not qualify for relief, the AP reported.

In addition to the amnesty law, Rodriguez announced the shutdown of Venezuela’s notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas. Torture and other human rights abuses have been repeatedly documented at El Helicoide. The facility is set to be transformed into a sports, social and cultural center, according to reports.

Alfredo Romero, the head of Foro Penal, Venezuela’s leading prisoner rights organization, welcomed the legislation while expressing some skepticism.

“A General Amnesty is always welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, that it does not become a blanket of impunity, and that it contributes to the dismantling of the repressive apparatus of political persecution,” Romero said in a post on X.

Relatives of detainees gather near El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence service and a detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, on the same day acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists detained for political reasons.  (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

Relatives of some prisoners livestreamed Rodríguez’s speech on a phone as they gathered outside Helicoide, according to the AP.

Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado said in a statement that the moves were not made “voluntarily, but rather in response to pressure from the US government,” the AP reported. She also reportedly noted that people detained for their political activities have been held for anywhere between a month and 23 years.

Foro Penal estimates there are 711 political prisoners held in Venezuela, 183 of whom have been sentenced, the AP reported. The outlet identified prominent members of the opposition who were detained after the 2024 election and remain in prison as former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, Machado’s lawyer Perkins Rocha and Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and one of Machado’s closest allies.

Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez speaks under a framed image of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a ceremony marking the opening of the new judicial year at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

On Friday evening, Venezuela released all known American citizens being held in the country.

“We are pleased to confirm the release by the interim authorities of all known U.S. citizens held in Venezuela,” the U.S. embassy wrote on X. “Should you have information regarding any other U.S. citizens still detained, please contact American Citizen Services.”