Venezuela Approves General Amnesty Law, Opposition Politician Released

Venezuela's National Assembly has approved a general amnesty law, prompting over 1,500 political prisoners to apply for release, according to Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly and brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, a close ally of former President Nicolas Maduro, stated during a press conference that files are under review and hundreds of prisoners have already been freed, including opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa. Citing BBC, a government official reported that 379 prisoners would be released that day. Jorge Arreaza, head of the special commission ensuring implementation of the amnesty law, made this announcement in a televised interview.

Prior to the law's passage, Delcy Rodriguez's interim government had temporarily released hundreds of prisoners. Delcy Rodriguez assumed power after U.S. forces reportedly arrested Maduro during an incursion into Venezuela and transferred him to the United States.

Guanipa, leader of the center-right Primero Justicia party and former deputy speaker of the National Assembly, announced on social media that he had been freed after nearly nine months of what he called unjust imprisonment. He described the amnesty bill as an "incomplete document" that fails to cover many Venezuelans he believes are wrongly imprisoned. Guanipa was accused of involvement in anti-security events and treason for challenging the 2024 election results. He went into hiding but was tracked and arrested by security forces in May 2025. He was briefly released earlier this month, rearrested for violating release conditions, and placed under house arrest.

Venezuela's socialist government has consistently denied the existence of political prisoners but stated for the first time that a "significant number" would be released as a gesture of goodwill. Previously, activists in Venezuela condemned delays in implementing the amnesty law and lack of transparency over who would be freed.