More than 1,500 request amnesty under new Venezuela law: top lawmakerCARACAS, Feb 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - More than 1,500 political prisoners in Venezuela have applied for amnesty under a new law, the head of the country's legislature said Saturday, two days after the measure -- enacted under pressure from Washington -- came into effect. "A total of 1,557 cases are being addressed immediately, and hundreds of people deprived of their freedom are already being released under the amnesty law," National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez told a press conference. Amnesty is not automatic under the law: petitioners must ask the court handling their cases. On Friday, the lawmaker overseeing the amnesty process, Jorge Arreaza, announced that prosecutors had asked courts to free 379 prisoners. The legislature unanimously adopted the landmark amnesty law on Thursday.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 22, 2026 02:26 UTC