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Venezuela Unveils Sweeping Amnesty and Plans to Close El Helicoide Prison

U.S. pressure over sanctions frames the interim government's effort to normalize ties.

Overview

  • The amnesty covers cases from 1999 to the present and excludes convictions for murder, drug trafficking and serious human-rights crimes.
  • El Helicoide in Caracas will be shut and converted into a social, sports, cultural and shopping complex serving police families and nearby communities.
  • Delcy Rodríguez announced a nationwide consultation to design a new justice system.
  • Release figures remain disputed: Foro Penal counts 303 releases since Jan. 8 and 711 still detained, while officials claim well over 600 releases.
  • Caracas is opening its oil sector to private investors as Washington eases some energy sanctions, and the U.S. Embassy says all known American detainees in Venezuela have been freed.