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Venezuela Proposes Amnesty Law for Political Prisoners Amid Major Changes

KVIA•Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 1:01 AM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez has proposed a new amnesty law aimed at releasing hundreds of political prisoners, while also announcing the closure of El Helicoide, the country's most notorious prison. The proposed law would cover cases from 1999 to the present but would exclude serious crimes such as homicide and drug trafficking. Rodríguez emphasized the need for cooperation from the National Assembly to promote healing and justice in Venezuela. This announcement coincides with the release of all known U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela and follows a recent commitment to release a significant number of political prisoners as a gesture towards the U.S. government. The human rights organization Foro Penal has reported varying numbers of released prisoners, highlighting the need for transparency in the process.

Key Details: • Amnesty law proposed for political prisoners from 1999 to present, excluding serious crimes. • Closure of El Helicoide prison to transform it into a community service center. • At least 302 political prisoners released as of Thursday, with ongoing calls for transparency.

human-rights venezuela political-prisoners amnesty el-helicoide

People & Organizations

VenezuelaAlfredo RomeroForo PenalDelcy RodríguezEl Helicoide

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