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Venezuelan authorities released 17 political prisoners from Caracas’ “Zone 7” detention centre on Saturday, following the passage of a landmark amnesty law.
This legislative reform, championed by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, targets the legal mechanisms historically used to suppress dissent.
The transition in leadership comes after the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January 2026, which has since sparked a wave of legal and diplomatic shifts within the nation.
While the NGO Foro Penal reports that over 600 political prisoners have been liberated since the change in government, approximately 500 individuals remain in custody.
The recent releases follow weeks of intense advocacy by family members, some of whom engaged in hunger strikes or chained themselves to prison gates to demand action.
Unlike detainees at other facilities who received immediate dismissals, those leaving Zone 7 must still navigate court appearances to finalise their legal standing.
The Venezuelan government maintains that more than 7,000 individuals across the country have benefited from this amnesty, including those previously held on parole.
Despite these numbers, human rights activists and families of the remaining prisoners are vowing to continue their campaign until all political detainees are free.
Emotional scenes of joy and calls for “liberty” marked Saturday’s releases, signalling a cautious optimism amid the country’s ongoing political transformation.
