Daijiworld Media Network - Caracas

Caracas, Feb 7: Venezuela’s Parliament head, Jorge Rodríguez, on Friday assured the families of political prisoners that all detainees would be freed by February 13, 2026, as the government moves to correct past mistakes.

Addressing relatives outside the Zona 7 detention centre in Caracas, Rodríguez said the government was committed to rectifying errors and implementing a new amnesty law, which is expected to be adopted by Parliament as early as Tuesday, February 10. Once enacted, prisoners would be released on the same day.

It remains unclear whether the promise covers all remaining political prisoners — estimated at around 700 — or only those at Zona 7. Rodríguez emphasised that the move is part of broader reconciliation efforts following the U.S. overthrow of Nicolás Maduro.

The announcement came a day after the National Assembly gave initial backing to a draft amnesty law intended to absolve charges used to detain dissidents during decades of socialist rule. Opposition groups criticised the draft, saying it excludes many prisoners, does not provide reparations for victims, and lacks provisions for the safe return of exiles.

Emotional scenes were witnessed outside the detention centre as relatives pleaded for the release of their loved ones. Rodríguez reassured them, saying, “We’re going to get them all out.”