By Micah Jonah, February 20, 2026
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has signed an amnesty bill that could result in the release of hundreds of politicians, activists, and lawyers detained for political reasons, a move that implicitly acknowledges what the government has long denied: the existence of political prisoners.
The law, signed on Thursday, follows the January 3 US military action in Caracas and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. It reverses decades of official denial regarding political detentions.
Families of those imprisoned expressed cautious optimism but noted delays in actual releases. Venezuelan prisoners’ rights group, Foro Penal reports 448 individuals released since January 8, with an estimated 600 still in custody for political reasons.
The law grants amnesty for participation in political protests and “violent actions” during a 2002 coup attempt, as well as certain events linked to elections and demonstrations between 2004 and recent years. It excludes those convicted of military rebellion, including participants in events in 2019, and does not restore confiscated assets, revoke public office bans, or lift sanctions against media outlets.
While some opposition politicians, including Nora Bracho, welcomed the measure as a step toward reconciliation, others, such as Pedro Urruchurtu, criticized it as inadequate, calling it “a trap to buy time and revictimize those persecuted.”
Since Maduro’s abduction, the US, led by President Donald Trump, has praised Rodriguez’s concessions, which include halting oil shipments to Cuba and supporting legislation to open Venezuela’s state-controlled oil sector to foreign companies. The US has stated it will manage proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales until a representative government is in place.
The signing of the amnesty law marks a significant, if controversial, development in Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis, offering hope for some of the country’s political detainees while leaving deep divisions within the opposition unresolved.
