Venezuela’s Nationwide Meeting member Jorge Arreaza, President of the particular fee liable for implementing and overseeing compliance with a newly accepted Amnesty Regulation meant to grant speedy clemency to folks jailed for collaborating in political protests, speaks to the media after fee’s set up session, in Caracas, Venezuela, February 20, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters
Greater than 1,500 political prisoners in Venezuela have utilized for amnesty beneath a brand new legislation, the top of the nation’s legislature mentioned on Saturday (February 21, 2026), two days after the measure — enacted beneath stress from Washington — got here into impact.
“A complete of 1,557 circumstances are being addressed instantly, and tons of of individuals disadvantaged of their freedom are already being launched beneath the amnesty legislation,” Nationwide Meeting chief Jorge Rodriguez informed a press convention.
Amnesty will not be computerized beneath the legislation: petitioners should ask the courtroom dealing with their circumstances.
On Saturday (February 21, 2026) alone, 80 prisoners had been free of detention within the capital Caracas, Mr. Rodriguez informed AFP.
On Friday (February 20, 2026), the lawmaker overseeing the amnesty course of, Jorge Arreaza, introduced that prosecutors had requested courts to free 379 prisoners.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez — the sister of the highest lawmaker — pushed for the laws after she rose to energy following the seize of leftist chief Nicolas Maduro throughout a U.S. navy raid on January 3.
The legislature unanimously adopted the landmark amnesty legislation on Thursday (February 19, 2026), and Delcy Rodriguez hailed its passage, describing it as a step towards “a extra democratic, fairer, freer Venezuela.”
Opposition figures have criticised the brand new laws, which seems to incorporate carve-outs for some offences beforehand utilized by authorities to focus on Maduro’s political opponents.
It explicitly doesn’t apply to these prosecuted for “selling” or “facilitating…armed or forceful actions” in opposition to Venezuela’s sovereignty by overseas actors.
Ms. Rodriguez has leveled such accusations in opposition to Opposition chief and Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado, who hopes to return to Venezuela sooner or later from the US.
The legislation additionally excludes members of the safety forces convicted of “terrorism”-related actions.
However the amnesty extends to 11,000 political prisoners who, over practically three a long time, have been paroled or positioned beneath home arrest.
“The legislation offers for these substitute measures to be lifted in order that these folks can get pleasure from full freedom,” Ms. Rodriguez informed reporters.
‘Let’s hope it is true’
Outdoors a nationwide police facility in Caracas often called Zone 7, family — a few of them on web site for weeks — patiently waited.
“Let’s hope it is true,” Genesis Rojas informed AFP.
A bunch of family who’ve been camped out for days chanted: “We wish to go residence!”
A row of cops with riot shields stood watch.
“They’re those who ought to ask us for forgiveness. For kidnapping us, for robbing us, for having violated all our human rights,” mentioned Yessy Orozco, whose father is imprisoned in Zone 7.
A bunch of 10 ladies went on a starvation strike that lasted greater than 5 days to demand the legislation’s passage and freedom for Venezuela’s political prisoners.
The final starvation striker, a girl exterior Zone 7, posted an indication that learn: “In restoration. No solutions.” She declined press interviews, saying she felt unwell.
Tons of have already been granted conditional launch by Ms. Rodriguez’s authorities for the reason that lethal U.S. raid that resulted in Maduro’s seize final month.
Maduro dominated Venezuela between March 2013 and January 2026, silencing opposition and activists beneath harsh leftist rule.
Maduro and his spouse are in U.S. custody awaiting trial. Maduro, 63, has pleaded not responsible to drug trafficking fees and declared that he was a “prisoner of battle.”
Printed – February 22, 2026 10:36 pm IST