After interim authorities passed a new law after the US overthrew former leader Nicolas Maduro, a congressman said Friday that 379 political prisoners in Venezuela had been given amnesty. The measure was unanimously approved by Venezuela’s National Assembly the day before, raising hopes that hundreds of political prisoners would soon be freed.
In a Friday broadcast interview, National Assembly deputy Jorge Arreaza, the politician in charge of the amnesty procedure, stated that the 379 inmates “must be released, granted amnesty, between tonight and tomorrow morning.” The Public Prosecutor’s Office has asked the appropriate courts to provide amnesty measures,” he stated.
The new law, which seems to provide carveouts for several offences that were previously utilised by authorities to target Maduro’s political rivals, has drawn criticism from opposition politicians. Those who are charged for “promoting” or “facilitating… armed or forceful actions” against Venezuela’s sovereignty by foreign entities are expressly exempt from it. Such charges have been made against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who intends to visit Venezuela from the United States at some point.
Also Read:
SIBF 2025 Reveals the Schedule of Workshops Led by International Specialis
