Venezuela to Release 300 Prisoners This Week Under Amnesty Law

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 Tuesday, May 19. Under Washington's watchful eye, Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has embarked on a series of reforms following the US 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 Tuesday that 300 prisoners would be released over a five-day period. 
 
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 amnesty. Of this cohort, the ministry says, 314 were released from prison, and the rest were granted full freedom after being on parole. 
 
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