Venezuela’s National Assembly special committee announced on Tuesday (February 24th) that over 3,200 individuals have been completely released since the Amnesty Law came into effect four days ago. These individuals include previous detainees as well as those who were previously under house arrest or other restrictive measures.
Jorge Arreaza, the chairman of the committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Amnesty Law and a member of the National Assembly, stated in a press conference that they have received 4,203 applications for amnesty.
After evaluation, it was determined that 3,052 individuals who were previously under house arrest or other restrictive measures have been granted full freedom. Additionally, 179 detainees have also been released.
On January 3rd, the U.S. military launched a large-scale airstrike on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, capturing President Maduro and his wife. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez then assumed the role of acting president. President Trump had warned Rodriguez at the time that if she did not do the right thing, her fate might be worse than Maduro’s.
Under pressure from the Trump administration, the Rodriguez government quickly announced the release of a large number of prisoners. However, the speed of the releases and the restrictive conditions imposed on many individuals after their release have been criticized by prisoners’ families and human rights organizations.
Rodriguez signed an Amnesty Law on February 19th, turning it into law. This law will potentially lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers, and many others, essentially acknowledging that the government had previously imprisoned hundreds for political reasons.
The amnesty does not apply to individuals convicted of murder, drug trafficking, military rebellion, or severe human rights violations.
The Venezuelan human rights organization “Foro Penal” stated on Tuesday (February 24th) that since the Amnesty Law came into effect on February 20th, they have only verified 91 cases of “political releases.” The organization also reported that they have requested authorities to review 232 cases currently excluded from the scope of the amnesty and nearly 600 people are still detained.
(Adapted from the report by The Associated Press)