Venezuela Announces General Amnesty Law for Political Prisoners: Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Justice Reform
Delcy Rodríguez announced plans for a "general amnesty law" that would cover political prisoners in Venezuela. She made the announcement at an event at the Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela and stated that the draft of the law would be sent to the Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela for debate and approval next week. Rodríguez emphasized the importance of promoting peaceful coexistence in the country and urged Venezuelans to reject violence or revenge. The amnesty law would seek to erase criminal cases for those covered, excluding serious common crimes like homicide and drug trafficking.
The proposed amnesty law is part of a broader effort to address the situation of political prisoners in Venezuela. Recent releases of detainees have been criticized for leaving former prisoners vulnerable to re-detention and pressure due to precautionary restrictions that were not fully lifted. Rodríguez also announced plans to repurpose El Helicoide, a detention complex associated with state security services, into a community site offering social and sports services. Additionally, she pledged to combat corruption within the justice system.
The announcement of the general amnesty law follows a series of incremental releases of political prisoners since Nicolás Maduro's removal from power in January. While the government has promised to continue freeing detainees, rights advocates have called for transparency, due-process guarantees, and published lists of beneficiaries. The use of selective pardons in the past has raised concerns about the lack of verifiable information on the number of people released and the need for external monitoring.
According to Foro Penal, hundreds of political prisoners have been released since January, but hundreds more remain in custody, with thousands under judicial restrictions. The proposed general amnesty law represents a significant legal step with potential wider judicial consequences. The push for transparency and accountability in the release of political prisoners underscores the importance of ensuring that all detainees are treated fairly and that their rights are respected.