Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez speaks under a framed image of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, during a ceremony marking the opening of the new judicial year at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
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CARACAS, Venezuela — A sweeping amnesty bill announced Friday by Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners, a move that signals a potential thaw in the country’s long-simmering political crisis. The measure includes opposition leaders, journalists, and human rights activists detained for their political beliefs.
A Shift in Tactics Following U.S. Intervention
The amnesty announcement follows a period of upheaval, including the recent seizure of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces in Caracas on Jan. 3.
- Rodríguez announced the amnesty bill during a televised address to government officials.
- The bill, if passed by the National Assembly, could free hundreds of prisoners.
- The move comes after a U.S. military intervention that ousted Maduro from power.
- The shutdown of the notorious Helicoide prison was also announced.
Rodríguez stated that the ruling party-controlled National Assembly would urgently consider the bill. “May this law serve to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism,” she said in the pretaped address. “May it serve to redirect justice in our country, and may it serve to redirect coexistence among Venezuelans.”
The announcement has been long sought by the U.S.-backed opposition. Rodríguez also revealed plans to shutter Helicoide, a Caracas prison repeatedly cited for documented instances of torture and human rights abuses. The facility will be repurposed as a sports, social, and cultural center for police and surrounding communities.
The decision to close Helicoide came as Rodríguez addressed officials accused of ordering abuses within the prison system, a move that drew immediate reaction from those gathered outside the facility. Relatives of prisoners livestreamed the speech, some weeping and chanting “Freedom! Freedom!”
“God is good. God heard us,” said Johana Chirinos, an aunt of a prisoner, tears streaming down her face.
Relatives of detainees gather the near El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence service and a detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
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Opposition Skepticism and Prisoner Count
Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado expressed skepticism, stating the actions were a result of “pressure from the US government.” She also pointed out that some individuals have been detained for as long as 23 years for their political activities. Foro Penal, a Venezuelan prisoners’ rights group, estimates that 711 people are currently imprisoned for political reasons, with 183 having been formally sentenced.
Among those still detained are former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, Machado’s lawyer Perkins Rocha, and Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and close ally of Machado, all arrested following the 2024 presidential election.
The specifics of the amnesty bill remain unclear, as the government has yet to release the full text. Rodríguez indicated the law would cover “the entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present,” excluding those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption, or human rights violations.
The U.S. Department of State confirmed Friday that all known U.S. citizens held in Venezuelan prisons have been released. Additionally, Laura Dogu, the new top U.S. diplomat for Venezuela, is scheduled to arrive in Caracas on Saturday.
Outside another detention facility in Caracas, Edward Ocariz, detained for over five months after the 2024 election, joined families of prisoners in demanding their loved ones’ immediate release. “We, Venezuelans, have all endured so much, all unjust, merciless and trampling on our dignity. No one deserves this,” Ocariz said. “And today, the guilty continue to govern Venezuela.”
