Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez announced an “amnesty” bill that, if approved by the ruling party–controlled National Assembly of Venezuela, could lead to the release of hundreds of people detained for political reasons, including opposition figures, journalists, and human rights activists. The announcement came amid heightened political turmoil following the U.S. seizure of then-president Nicolás Maduro earlier in January, and after years of opposition and international demands for prisoner releases.
Rodríguez also said the government will shut down El Helicoide—a detention site long associated with allegations of torture and abuse—and convert it into a sports, social, and cultural center. The government did not publish the bill’s full text, leaving key eligibility criteria unclear, though Rodríguez indicated it would cover political violence from 1999 to the present while excluding people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption, or human rights violations.