Venezuela advances amnesty bill that could lead to mass release of political prisoners

Описание: (5 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 5 February 2026
1. National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez arriving to the national assembly
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jorge Rodriguez, National Assembly President:
"That the path of this law will be full of obstacles, it will be full of disappointments, it will be full of biased positions, and unfair positions."
3. Rodriguez speaking
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jorge Rodriguez, National Assembly President:
"We must not only swallow hard, not only swallow our pride, which we must swallow for the sake of coexistence, reconciliation, peace and embrace, but also tread carefully so as not to be led astray."
5. Various of law being handed to Rodriguez
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jorge Rodriguez, National Assembly President:
"We apologise, because I will say it clearly: I do not like prisoners. It may be necessary because of criminal codes, or for whatever reason, or because of the realities of politics and the specific situation of society."
7. Various of lawmakers voting

STORYLINE:
Venezuela's legislature on Thursday advanced an amnesty bill proposed by acting President Delcy Rodríguez that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists detained for political reasons.

The proposed bill, introduced just weeks after the U.S. military captured then-President Nicolás Maduro, still requires a second reading that has yet to be scheduled.

Once approved, it must be signed by Rodríguez before it can be officially published.

"No one should view this law as a sign of weakness", said ruling party lawmaker Jorge Arreaza, who presented the law to the Assembly.

The proposed legislation sparked concern among human rights groups, many of which demanded on Thursday, that the full text be released before any final vote in the National Assembly.

The Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea) issued a statement emphasizing that the bill must be made public urgently due to its potential impact on victims’ rights and broader Venezuelan society.

The amnesty law, a central demand of the opposition and human rights activists with backing from the United States, gained renewed urgency following the removal of Maduro from power.

The bill covers a broad timeline, spanning the administration of the late Hugo Chávez (1999–2013) and that of his political heir, Maduro (2013–2026).

However, reports indicate that the law will strictly exclude individuals convicted of murder, drug trafficking, and serious human rights violations.

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