Venezuela Assembly approves amnesty billAFP, CARACASThe Venezuelan National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners jailed for being government detractors. Venezuelans embrace upon learning of the approval of the amnesty law for political prisoners in Caracas on Thursday. In one of the first releases after the bill passed, Machado ally and former National Assembly vice president Juan Pablo Guanipa announced his release from detention after about nine months in prison and under house arrest. “I thank all Venezuelans for fighting for my release and that of all political prisoners,” he wrote. Article 9 of the bill lists those excluded from amnesty as “persons who are being prosecuted or may be convicted for promoting, instigating, soliciting, invoking, favoring, facilitating, financing or participating in armed actions, or the use of force against the people, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Venezuela “by foreign states, corporations or individuals.”The Venezuelan National Assembly had delayed several sittings meant to pass the amnesty bill.

Source: Taipei Times February 20, 2026 16:49 UTC