Venezuela to Release 300 Prisoners

Venezuela will release 300 prisoners this week under an amnesty law aimed at freeing political detainees, according to National Assembly chief Jorge Rodríguez.

Rodríguez said on Tuesday that 300 people will be released between Monday and Friday, adding that the group includes individuals involved in confirmed offences, as well as minors, elderly prisoners over 70 years old, and those with serious medical conditions.

Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez — Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez
Credit: Reuters

The release of 300 inmates is part of the ongoing implementation of the country’s wider amnesty framework, which authorities say is designed to review selected categories of detainees for possible release under defined legal and humanitarian criteria.

The policy has been presented as part of efforts to address prison overcrowding and to respond to health and age-related vulnerabilities among inmates.

Rodríguez did not provide full details on the identities of those to be released or the specific facilities involved, but indicated that the process would take place gradually within the stated timeframe.

He emphasised that the releases would be carried out between mid-week and Friday, suggesting a coordinated rollout across different detention centres.

Officials maintain that the amnesty initiative is intended to balance legal enforcement with humanitarian considerations, particularly for vulnerable groups within the prison system.

However, human rights observers have previously questioned the transparency and consistency of prisoner release processes under similar measures.

At the time of the announcement, no further official documentation or detailed breakdown of beneficiaries had been released to the public, leaving several aspects of the implementation process unclear.

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