Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced a general amnesty law for political prisoners on January 30, 2026, building on earlier releases following Nicolás Maduro's capture. Amid slow progress and vigils by families of detainees like Argentines Nahuel Gallo and Germán Giuliani, the move signals democratic steps, with US diplomatic normalization underway.
On January 30, 2026—nearly a month after initial releases announced by Jorge Rodríguez (see prior coverage)—interim president Delcy Rodríguez proclaimed a general amnesty law at the Supreme Court of Justice's judicial year opening. The law targets penal processes for political reasons from 1999 onward, excluding serious crimes like homicides or drug trafficking, to foster 'national coexistence' without revenge.
Building on Foro Penal's tracking of around 863 political prisoners in late 2025 and confirmed excarcelations (300-831 since Maduro's US capture), families continue vigils outside facilities like Rodeo I and Yare II. Relatives of Argentine detainees Nahuel Gallo (held since December 2024) and Germán Giuliani (May 2025) express cautious optimism amid reports of slow releases, restrictions on supplies, food shortages, and poor conditions affecting over 60 foreigners.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado praised the amnesty as an 'irreversible path to democracy,' attributing it partly to US pressure, while noting the legacy of 27 years of repression. Rodríguez also ordered El Helicoide detention center's closure for repurposing as a cultural site. The White House confirmed all US citizens' release, and US diplomat Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas on January 31 to reopen the mission, advancing bilateral ties.
