A total of 1,557 political prisoners in Venezuela have applied for amnesty under a newly enacted law, authorities announced Saturday, marking a rare policy shift in the South American nation.
The amnesty legislation was unanimously approved by the National Assembly earlier this week and signed into law by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, in a move that follows years of government denials that political prisoners even existed.
Under the law, applications must be submitted to the courts and are not granted automatically. National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said the 1,557 requests are being processed immediately, and hundreds of detainees are already being released under the new law.
The measure is expected to benefit a wide range of individuals, including opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists — many of whom have been detained for months or years. Critics including human rights organizations have welcomed the step as a positive development but argue the law is limited and excludes those convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, drug trafficking, and military rebellion.
Among those already freed is opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa, whose house arrest was lifted following the law’s passage.
The amnesty law’s adoption represents a significant reversal in Venezuelan policy, especially after decades of dismissing allegations of political imprisonment. It also comes in the wake of shifting political dynamics in the country, including recent changes in leadership and international relations.
