A man holds up a Venezuelan flag during the wake of Carmen Navas, the mother of Victor Hugo Quero, who authorities said died in custody following his arrest about a year earlier, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP
Venezuela will release 300 prisoners this week under the framework of an amnesty law aimed at freeing political detainees, National Assembly Chief Jorge Rodriguez said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026).Under Washington's watchful eye, Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has embarked on a series of reforms following the U.S. ouster of her predecessor Nicolas Maduro, in January.One such reform was the adoption of an amnesty for political prisoners in February, which led to the release of hundreds of detainees.The interim leader's brother, who heads Venezuela's National Assembly, said on Tuesday (May 19) that 300 prisoners would be released over a five-day period."Between yesterday and this Friday, 300 people will be released, some involved in proven crimes but (others) who are minors, over 70 years old or suffering from a medical condition," Jorge Rodriguez said."We are going beyond the amnesty law by carrying out a process of granting benefits to these people," he added.The released prisoners include former police officials linked to the brief overthrow of former leftist president Hugo Chavez in April 2002, he said.Mr. Rodriguez also cited the releases of a 16-year-old girl and a woman in her seventies on Monday (May 18), and 16 political prisoners accused of offenses in the oil industry on Tuesday (May 19)."We are not asking anything of anyone," he said. "We simply want this gesture to be appreciated."Almost 800 people have been released from prison since January, 186 of whom were freed under the amnesty law, according to the rights group Foro Penal.These figures contrast with data from the interior ministry, which says more than 8,000 people have benefited from the amnesty.Of this cohort, the Ministry says, 314 were released from prison, and the rest were granted full freedom after being on parole.Around 20 political prisoners have died in custody in Venezuela since 2014, according to Foro Penal.Interim leader Rodriguez on Monday (May 18) ordered an investigation into the death of political prisoner Victor Hugo Quero Navas in state custody, whose 81-year-old mother died days after confirming her son's passing. Published - May 20, 2026 10:53 am IST
