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Venezuela begins processing amnesty applications
Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced on Saturday that 1,557 political prisoners have applied for amnesty under a law enacted this week. Rodríguez, a close ally of former President Nicolás Maduro, stated that authorities are addressing the requests "immediately" and that hundreds have already been released.
Key releases and opposition criticism
Among those freed is opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa, though critics argue the law excludes certain prisoners. The U.S. has pressed Venezuela to accelerate releases since Maduro's capture by American forces on January 3. Venezuela's government has long denied holding political prisoners, despite allegations from human rights groups.
Scope and limitations of the amnesty law
Rodríguez indicated the legislation could eventually cover up to 11,000 prisoners. However, opposition figures and rights organizations have condemned the law for excluding those who advocated for foreign military intervention in Venezuela. BBC Latin America specialist Luis Fajardo noted that one contentious clause appears directly targeted at opposition leader María Corina Machado, last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Legal experts, including law professor Juan Carlos Apitz, have also criticized the law for omitting military officers involved in past rebellions against Maduro's administration.
Focus on El Helicoide prison releases
Rodríguez confirmed that initial releases would prioritize detainees from Caracas' notorious El Helicoide prison, with the first wave expected "over the next few hours." Activists report that some prisoners' families have staged hunger strikes to demand their relatives' freedom. U.S. President Donald Trump previously announced plans to close the facility following Maduro's arrest.
Maduro's legal status in the U.S.
Maduro, currently in U.S. custody alongside his wife Cilia Flores, faces drug and weapons charges. He denies the allegations, claiming he is a "prisoner of war."
