Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced that 1,557 political prisoners have applied for amnesty under a new law. He stated that hundreds have already been released, with the legislation expected to eventually cover 11,000 individuals.
However, the law faces criticism for excluding certain categories of prisoners, including those who have called for foreign intervention and some military officers involved in past rebellions. Opposition and human rights groups have long accused the government of using detentions to suppress dissent.
Releases from the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas are reportedly being prioritized and are expected to occur within hours. Some activists report that families of imprisoned individuals have begun hunger strikes to demand further releases.