Venezuela Sets February 13 Deadline for Release of Political Prisoners

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez has announced a firm deadline for the release of all political prisoners, marking what could become one of the most significant human‑rights developments in the country’s turbulent recent history. Speaking outside the Zona 7 detention centre in Caracas, Rodríguez told families of detainees that the government intends to free all political prisoners no later than February 13.

The announcement follows the National Assembly’s unanimous first‑round approval of a sweeping amnesty bill designed to absolve individuals charged or convicted for politically motivated offences under the administrations of former President Nicolás Maduro and his predecessors. The bill, which still requires a second and final vote scheduled for Tuesday, would lift political bans on opposition figures, including Nobel Prize laureate María Corina Machado, while excluding crimes such as murder, corruption, drug trafficking and human‑rights violations.

A Pledge to “Repair Mistakes” of the Past

Rodríguez, who is also the brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, framed the upcoming releases as part of a broader effort to address longstanding abuses committed during the Chavismo era, which began under the late Hugo Chávez and continued under Maduro. “We hope that, between next Tuesday and by Friday at the latest, they will all be free,” he said, adding that the government intends to “repair all the mistakes” made during previous administrations.

Human‑rights organisations, however, remain cautious. While the government claims to have already released up to 900 political detainees, independent watchdog Foro Penal places the figure significantly lower, estimating that roughly 383 have been freed and nearly 680 remain imprisoned for political reasons.

Amnesty Bill Seen as a Turning Point

The amnesty legislation is widely viewed as a critical step in Venezuela’s post‑Maduro transition. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has described the bill as a tool for “peace and national reconciliation,” emphasising its role in healing the wounds of years of political confrontation.

If passed, the law would cover politically linked cases dating back to 1999, the year Chávez first took office. It would also remove barriers preventing opposition leaders from seeking public office—an issue that has long been a flashpoint in Venezuela’s political crisis.

International Pressure and Domestic Scepticism

The move comes amid intense international scrutiny. Since the U.S. military operation on January 3 that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Washington has pressed the interim government to address human‑rights concerns while also negotiating over Venezuela’s oil sector. The prisoner‑release deadline and the amnesty bill are expected to be welcomed by the U.S. administration, which has repeatedly condemned the Maduro government’s record of arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings.

Despite the optimism surrounding the announcement, critics warn that the Venezuelan government has previously failed to follow through on similar commitments. Families of detainees and rights groups have expressed frustration over the slow pace of earlier promised releases, urging authorities to ensure that this new deadline is met in full.

What Comes Next

If the National Assembly approves the amnesty bill in its final vote on Tuesday, Rodríguez has pledged that the mass release will begin immediately. “As soon as the law is adopted, they will also be released the same day,” he said.

For many Venezuelans, the coming days may determine whether the country is genuinely turning a page on years of political repression—or whether this latest promise will join a long list of unfulfilled reforms.