Venezuela announces amnesty bill that could free political prisoners

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced a general amnesty bill covering political cases from 1999 to the present, and she said the National Assembly will take the measure up urgently.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced a general amnesty bill that she said could lead to the release of hundreds of people detained for political reasons, including opposition figures, journalists and activists. Rodríguez made the announcement at a government event and said the ruling party-controlled National Assembly would take up the bill with urgency. She also announced the planned shutdown and repurposing of the Helicoide prison in Caracas as a sports, social and cultural center. The government did not release the full text of the bill on the day of the announcement, leaving details unclear. Key details: - The amnesty was described as covering the period of "political violence from 1999 to the present." - Rodríguez said people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption or human rights violations would not qualify for relief. - The prisoners' rights group Foro Penal estimates about 711 people are detained for political activities, with 183 sentenced. - Foro Penal has counted 302 releases since a Jan. 8 announcement by the government. - Rodríguez said the National Assembly will address the proposed law urgently. - The U.S. Department of State said all U.S. citizens known to have been held in Venezuelan prisons had been released, and it announced the arrival of its top diplomat to Venezuela. Summary: The announcement may lead to a substantial change in how political detentions are handled if the bill is approved and implemented. The immediate next procedural step reported is consideration of the proposal by the National Assembly; the final scope, criteria and implementation timeline remain undetermined at this time.