Rodriguez asks parliament to review cases not included in law

Rodriguez asks parliament to review cases not included in law

Venezuela’s Acting President Seeks Parliamentary Review of Excluded Cases Under Amnesty Law

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has requested that the National Assembly review cases of detainees not covered by the recently passed amnesty law, which critics argue excludes a significant portion of the country’s political prisoners. The law, approved by the legislature on February 19, aims to release individuals detained for politically motivated offenses during specific periods since 1999, including protests and elections according to reports. However, rights groups and opposition figures contend that the law’s narrow eligibility criteria—excluding crimes such as human rights violations, drug trafficking, and corruption—could leave more than half of political detainees unaffected as research shows.

The amnesty law applies to offenses linked to periods of political unrest, such as the 2019 protests and the 2024 elections, but does not cover detentions outside these timeframes. For example, activists arrested in 2021 or 2025 may not qualify, according to the bill's language. Additionally, individuals in exile face uncertainty, as the law requires in-person appearances for amnesty approval, though a provision allows lawyers to submit requests on their behalf as reported by US News.

Rodríguez’s call for a parliamentary review comes amid growing pressure from human rights organizations and families of detainees, who have staged hunger strikes and protests outside detention facilities. The Committee for the Liberation of Political Prisoners (Clippve) has criticized the law as “exclusionary,” arguing it prolongs suffering for those detained outside the specified periods according to rights group analysis.

The government maintains that the law promotes national reconciliation and aligns with U.S. demands for improved relations, particularly following the January 3 ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro. To date, 431 political prisoners have been released, though relatives and watchdogs say the pace remains slow as data indicates.

While the law excludes serious crimes, it marks a shift in Venezuela’s approach to political detentions, which had long been denied by authorities. The financial and political implications of further revisions remain unclear, but the move underscores ongoing tensions between the interim administration and opposition groups seeking broader justice and transparency according to analysis.

(https://www.elliotlaketoday.com/world-news/venezuela-approves-amnesty-bill-that-could-see-release-of-hundreds-detained-for-political-reasons-11902201): AP News, TASS
(https://latinamericareports.com/half-of-political-prisoners-could-be-excluded-from-venezuelas-amnesty-law-rights-group/13554/): Latin America Reports
(https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-02-19/venezuela-legislature-passes-limited-amnesty-bill-critiqued-by-rights-groups): Reuters