Venezuela’s government says it is freeing large numbers of people held for political reasons after passing a new amnesty law.
Nikki Fried discusses Florida Democrats’ gains, obstacles, and voter registration concernsDogtopia of Jacksonville Beach Blvd Passion 4 Pets adoption event matches 30 dogs with new familiesRelatives of detainees they say are held for political reasons wait outside El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, after the National Assembly approved an amnesty bill in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb.
19, 2026. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez walks back into Miraflores Palace after signing an amnesty bill approved by the National Assembly in front of journalists in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez holds up an amnesty bill approved by the National Assembly alongside Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Relatives of detainees they say are held for political reasons wait outside El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, after the National Assembly approved an amnesty bill in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Relatives of detainees they say are held for political reasons wait outside El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, after the National Assembly approved an amnesty bill in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Relatives of detainees they say are held for political reasons wait outside El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and a detention center, after the National Assembly approved an amnesty bill in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Thursday’s measure is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and many others detained for months or even years.“As of today, 1,152 new applications have been received, for a total of 1,557 that are being addressed immediately, and at this moment hundreds of releases of persons deprived of liberty who are benefiting from the Amnesty Law are already taking place,” National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said on Saturday. Earlier, the president of the special commission overseeing the amnesty law, Jorge Arreaza, said Friday night on state television that 379 amnesty requests had been received and that the applicants’ releases would take place between Friday and Saturday. Further releases could be granted within 15 days, he said. Gonzalo Himiob, vice president of Venezuela-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal, told The Associated Press on Saturday that so far some have been released in the state of Barinas, in the southwest of the country, but the process of verifying releases under the amnesty was still ongoing. The new law excludes those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, serious human rights violations and military rebellion. Human rights organizations are calling for the law to be applied to all prisoners held for political reasons, even if they are not listed among the beneficiaries. “It is discriminatory and unconstitutional to exclude imprisoned military personnel and persecuted political figures,” Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, said on X Saturday. Without this, “there can be no talk of national coexistence,” he said. Rodríguez said that thousands of requests are being processed from “individuals who were under alternative measures to the system of deprivation of liberty,” and that they are likewise covered by the recently approved Amnesty Law., acting president of Venezuela since Jan. 5, said during the signing of the law that it showed that the country’s political leaders were “letting go of a little intolerance and opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela.” The bill’s purpose is to grant people “a general and full amnesty for crimes or offenses committed” during specific periods since 1999 that were marked by politically driven conflicts in Venezuela, including “acts of politically motivated violence” in the context of theIn the days after Maduro’s Jan. 3 capture, Rodríguez’s government announced it would release a significant number of prisoners. However,Venezuela-based nonprofit Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness has tallied 459 releases of detainees held for political reasons between Jan. 8 and Feb. 20. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Timeline: How ‘big favor’ texts sparked a JEA board shakeup and allegations about utility leadershipSheriff says woman who held boys at gunpoint should have handled trespassing differentlyMayor Deegan calls councilman's claims of 'toxic' culture at JEA a 'vile smear campaign' against CEOFrom coffee-table classics to ‘Bold’: New Jacksonville magazine honors Black legacy media19-year-old charged in Magnolia Gardens shooting that injured 4, including Raines High studentVoices of the 904: Live from LaVilla edition - A conversation on Black history and cultureConfidence grows for coaches as the bill for better pay picks up steam in Florida.It's feeling like spring. It's time to start some seeds and grow some tasty greens for spring.
Nicolas Maduro Jorge Arreaza Alfredo Romero Acting President Gonzalo Himiob
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