More than 1,500 request amnesty under new Venezuela law
The Hindu
Over 1,500 Venezuelan political prisoners seek amnesty under new law, sparking criticism and hopes for democratic reform.
More than 1,500 political prisoners in Venezuela have applied for amnesty under a new law, the head of the country's legislature said on Saturday (February 21, 2026), two days after the measure — enacted under pressure from Washington — came into effect.
"A total of 1,557 cases are being addressed immediately, and hundreds of people deprived of their freedom are already being released under the amnesty law," National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez told a press conference.
Amnesty is not automatic under the law: petitioners must ask the court handling their cases.
On Saturday (February 21, 2026) alone, 80 prisoners had been freed from detention in the capital Caracas, Mr. Rodriguez told AFP.
On Friday (February 20, 2026), the lawmaker overseeing the amnesty process, Jorge Arreaza, announced that prosecutors had asked courts to free 379 prisoners.
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez — the sister of the top lawmaker — pushed for the legislation after she rose to power following the capture of leftist leader Nicolas Maduro during a U.S. military raid on January 3.
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