Caracas: Hundreds of families across Venezuela may soon see long-awaited relief after interim President Delcy Rodríguez unveiled an amnesty bill that promises the release of detainees linked to years of political conflict.
Addressing senior judges, cabinet ministers, military leaders, and top officials at a formal gathering, Rodríguez said the government would urgently submit a general amnesty law to the National Assembly. The proposal is intended to cover cases linked to political violence from 1999 to the present, a period spanning the presidencies of Hugo Chávez and Maduro.
Rodríguez framed the initiative as an attempt to turn a painful page in Venezuela’s recent history. She said the aim was to repair social divisions, restore a sense of justice, and rebuild coexistence after years of confrontation driven by extremism and violence.
In a parallel announcement, the interim president ordered the closure of El Helicoide, the notorious intelligence-run detention centre in Caracas long associated with torture and serious human rights abuses. She said the complex would be converted into a sports, social, and cultural hub for nearby communities.
The announcement was made in front of officials who have previously been accused by former detainees and rights groups of overseeing El Helicoide and other detention facilities.
Independent watchdog Foro Penal estimates that 711 people remain in detention across Venezuela for political reasons, with 183 already sentenced. The group cautiously welcomed the amnesty plan but stressed it must apply to all detainees without exception and should not shield perpetrators of abuses from accountability.
According to Foro Penal, around 302 prisoners have been released since Rodríguez assumed office following Maduro’s removal. The group also shared footage showing the release of human rights defender Eduardo Torres, who had been jailed since May last year.
Families of detainees and rights advocates have long called for charges against political prisoners to be dropped entirely. Government officials, who deny holding political prisoners and insist those jailed committed criminal offences, claim more than 600 people have been freed, though details and timelines remain unclear.
