The National Assembly of Venezuela has made a unanimous decision, approving an amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners and end legal prosecutions related to the long-standing internal political crisis that has existed in the country since 1999. However, human rights defenders and opposition forces express skepticism regarding a number of serious restrictions contained in this document.
The initiative for the bill came from the government led by President Delcy Rodriguez. The Chairman of the Parliament, Jorge Rodriguez, noted that this law is intended to end the long-standing polarization in society and symbolize the beginning of a "new political era."
According to the presented text, the amnesty covers individuals who committed politically motivated offenses during various upheavals that have occurred over the past decades. However, the law includes a strict list of exceptions. Those who are accused of the following are not eligible for amnesty:
intentional murder and corruption;illegal drug trafficking;gross human rights violations;organizing armed actions with the support of foreign states.
Opposition representatives and human rights organizations are cautious in their assessments. They acknowledge the importance of the decision made, but point out the lack of guarantees for the automatic restoration of political rights and the return of confiscated property. Non-governmental organizations also demand the implementation of transparent processes for selecting candidates for release.
According to the organization Foro Penal, since the beginning of the year, more than 400 people have been released, but over 600 political prisoners remain behind bars. Authorities claim that the number of those released is much higher and promise to continue this process in the near future.
The passage of the law was preceded by tense discussions and protests from the relatives of the prisoners, who demanded an expansion of the amnesty coverage. Experts conclude that the real effectiveness of the law will only become apparent as it is practically applied and the dynamics of subsequent releases unfold.
