Venezuela Grants Amnesty to 379 Political Prisoners

Venezuelan interim authorities have enacted an amnesty law, leading to the expected release of 379 political prisoners. This development follows the US-led toppling of former leader Nicolás Maduro, who was subsequently taken to New York for trial on drug trafficking charges. Delcy Rodriguez, formerly Maduro's vice president, has assumed the interim presidency with the consent of US President Donald Trump, provided she aligns with Washington's policies. The United States has also taken control of Venezuela's oil sales, with Trump vowing a share of the profits for Washington. The new legislation, unanimously adopted by Venezuela's National Assembly, has been criticized by opposition figures and human rights groups for excluding certain offenses, particularly those related to 'armed or forceful actions' against Venezuelan sovereignty and 'terrorism'-related activities by security forces. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, accused of such actions, remains in the US, while Juan Pablo Guanipa, an ally, has been released. The NGO Foro Penal estimates around 650 political prisoners were detained before the announcement, and its director, Alfredo Romero, noted that amnesty is not automatic, requiring court processes viewed by many as instruments of repression from the Maduro era. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, an exiled opposition figure, emphasized that 'no lasting reconciliation without memory or responsibility' is possible.