Venezuela to Release 300 Prisoners Under Amnesty Law

Venezuela announced the release of 300 prisoners from jail between 18 May 2026 and 22 May 2026. The releases are taking place in Caracas under an amnesty law passed in February 2026.

Amnesty Law

An amnesty law is a legal measure that removes criminal liability for specified offences or categories of persons. In Venezuela, the February 2026 law was framed for political detainees and related cases.

Categories of Prisoners Mentioned

The releases include minors, persons above 70 years of age, and individuals with medical conditions. The list also includes persons linked to proven crimes and some former police officers.

• Samanta Sofía Hernández Castillo is a 16-year-old girl named in the release list.
• Merys Torres de Sequea is a 71-year-old woman named in the release list.
• Erasmo Bolívar, Héctor Rovaín, and Luis Molina are former police officers named in the release list.
• The three former police officers were involved in the 2002 overthrow attempt of former President Hugo Chavez.

Institutions and Human Rights Groups

Jorge Rodríguez is the President of Venezuela’s National Assembly. Human Rights Watch and Foro Penal have criticised the implementation of the amnesty law and have stated that many arbitrarily detained individuals remain excluded.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Venezuela.
• Amnesty laws are used in several countries to cover political offences, protest-related cases, or transitional justice measures.
• Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organisation that documents human rights violations.
• Foro Penal is a Venezuelan legal rights organisation known for tracking detainees and political arrests.

Government Position

The Venezuelan government denies holding political prisoners. It states that the jailed persons have committed crimes.