Venezuelan National Assembly leader sets deadline for prisoner release negotiations

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Announces Plan to Release Political Prisoners by February 13

Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, has announced that his government plans to release all political prisoners by no later than February 13. The announcement was made during a meeting with family members of imprisoned individuals at the Zona 7 detention center in Caracas.

According to Rodriguez, the government aims to complete the mass release within two weeks. He stated that once an amnesty bill is signed into law, the releases will begin. The bill, which has already been unanimously approved by the National Assembly, would absolve those accused or convicted of crimes related to their political leanings or protests.

The legislation also includes provisions to lift bans on opposition figures from running for public office and to allow them to participate in the electoral process. However, it does not cover crimes such as murder, human rights violations, or corruption.

Rodriguez’s announcement comes after a series of events that have seen the Trump administration pressure the interim presidency of Delcy Rodriguez to comply with its demands, particularly regarding the sale and extraction of Venezuelan oil. The Maduro government has been accused of stifling political dissent through arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing.

Human rights groups, such as Foro Penal, estimate that nearly 680 people remain jailed for their political activities. Amnesty International has also reported on human rights abuses under the Maduro regime, including the detention and release of journalists.

The Venezuelan government has previously stated that it has released over 900 political prisoners. However, these numbers are disputed by human rights groups, who claim that many more individuals remain incarcerated. The implementation of the amnesty bill and the mass release of political prisoners will be closely monitored to ensure that justice is served and human rights commitments are upheld.

Source: Al Jazeera