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2mo ago

Venezuela Frees 17 From Zona 7 as Amnesty Vote Is Delayed and Families Start Hunger Strike

Families demand faster, transparent releases during a legislative pause to resolve how the amnesty would be applied.

Yessi Orozco waits with relatives of other detainees for the release of her father, Fernando Orozco, held at the Zone 7 detention center of the Bolivarian National Police in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Nelsy Escorcia lies outside the Zone 7 detention center of the Bolivarian National Police, where her husband, Franklin Parra, is being held, as she waits for his release in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A relative of a political prisoner lies on the ground during a protest outside the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) Zona 7 prison in Caracas
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Overview

  • National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said 17 detainees were released from the Zona 7 facility in Caracas, without providing a list of names.
  • Relatives began a hunger strike outside Zona 7 after the partial release, saying many detainees remain and urging authorities to fulfill pledges to free everyone held there.
  • Lawmakers advanced the amnesty bill in a first reading but postponed final adoption over application rules, including whether beneficiaries must appear in court, with debate scheduled to resume on February 19.
  • Rights groups and legal experts criticize the draft for framing amnesty as an 'act of mercy,' for exclusions of serious crimes, and for loopholes they say could enable re-arrests without broader justice reforms.
  • Release totals remain disputed: the government cites roughly 900 liberations since late 2025, while Foro Penal says it has verified about 431 conditional releases and estimates 644 political prisoners are still jailed, noting no official public list exists.