Relations of political prisoners protest in entrance of a line of policemen outdoors the Bolivarian Nationwide Police (PNB) Zona 7 jail in Caracas on February 13, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
Venezuela’s parliament chief stated on Saturday (February 14, 2026) that 17 political prisoners had been launched, as talks proceed over the adoption of a historic amnesty invoice designed to finish the usage of courts to crack down on dissent.
The amnesty legislation, if enacted, is anticipated to cowl all fees introduced in opposition to dissidents who opposed the rule of ousted chief Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez over the previous 27 years.
“Underneath the Amnesty Regulation, 17 individuals disadvantaged of their liberty in Zona 7 are being launched at this second,” Nationwide Meeting president Jorge Rodriguez wrote on social media, referring to the detention heart in capital Caracas.
He referred to as for Venezuelans to “proceed this path of peace for the development of democratic coexistence.”
Mr. Rodriguez didn’t publish the names of these launched.
Lawmakers on Thursday (February 12) postponed its adoption after failing to succeed in an settlement on easy methods to apply it.
They agreed to proceed the controversy on February 19.
The amnesty laws covers fees of “treason,” “terrorism” and spreading “hate” that have been used to lock up dissidents, in response to the invoice textual content.
U.S. strain
The Invoice is the centerpiece of the reforms undertaken by appearing President Delcy Rodriguez since Maduro’s seize by U.S. particular forces in a lethal January 3 raid on Caracas.
It goals to show the web page on almost three a long time of state repression.
Ms. Rodriguez, the sister of parliament chief Jorge Rodriguez, took Mr. Maduro’s place with the consent of US President Donald Trump, provided that she toe his line.
The US has taken over management of Venezuela’s oil gross sales, with Mr. Trump vowing a share for Washington within the earnings.
The Trump administration has additionally pressured Ms Rodriguez to launch political prisoners.
The amnesty laws beneath debate would doubtlessly see tons of of activists nonetheless behind bars stroll free.
Because the post-Maduro transition takes maintain, the worry instilled by the state is starting to dissipate.
Hundreds of Opposition supporters had poured into the streets of Caracas forward of the controversy over the invoice to demand the discharge of all remaining political prisoners.
Members of the Nationwide Meeting backed the invoice on a primary studying final week and have been anticipated to undertake it on Thursday after a second studying.
But it surely hit a snag, with pro-government and Opposition lawmakers clashing over an article requiring would-be beneficiaries to seem in court docket to request amnesty.
Based on the NGO Foro Penal, which advocates for inmates in Venezuela, 431 political prisoners have acquired conditional launch and 644 stay behind bars.
Printed – February 14, 2026 12:03 pm IST