CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan authorities say more than 3,200 people have been fully released under a newly enacted amnesty law, a development that reflects a significant shift in policy following months of political turmoil.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s government said the amnesty measure, which took effect on February 20, 2026, has already granted freedom to 3,052 individuals previously under house arrest or other restrictions and 179 people who had been in prison, according to figures provided by a special commission of the National Assembly. The tally comes from a total of 4,203 applications received since the law’s implementation.
The legislation, widely viewed as part of political recalibration after the controversial U.S. operation that led to the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January, was passed unanimously by the National Assembly earlier in the month. It is aimed at freeing people detained for politically motivated offenses spanning years of unrest and contested elections.
However, the mass release has drawn mixed reactions. Human rights organizations, including Venezuela-based Foro Penal, have raised concerns about the slow pace of releases and say that only a fraction of political detainees have so far been freed. Foro Penal has verified just about 91 political releases, and says some 600 people remain in detention, arguing that many eligible cases have yet to be acted on.
Critics also note that the law excludes those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, military rebellion and serious human rights violations, and that “full freedom” does not automatically erase other restrictions or legal obstacles faced by ex-detainees.
