Venezuela Reports Nearly 2,200 Benefited From Amnesty as Releases and Prison Hunger Strike Continue

Overview

• Interim president Delcy Rodríguez’s amnesty, approved Thursday, is being rolled out as part of a reconciliation push following January’s leadership change.
• Legislative commission chair Jorge Arreaza said 177 people have been freed from prison and 2,021 had reporting obligations lifted, with over 3,000 applications pending and courts given 15 days to rule.
• At least 30 detainees were released from the Rodeo I prison near Caracas on Monday, where families have been camped outside awaiting decisions.
• About 200 inmates at Rodeo I are on a hunger strike to protest exclusions, with relatives voicing concerns about deteriorating health.
• The NGO Foro Penal reports more than 600 political prisoners remain, as the law omits cases labeled as terrorism, does not restore seized assets or political rights, and requires exiles to appear in person to obtain relief.