Human Rights Watch Criticizes Venezuela's Flawed Amnesty Law Implementation

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized Venezuela’s new amnesty law, approved in February 2026, for significant shortcomings that exclude many arbitrarily detained individuals. Although the law aims to promote social peace and democratic coexistence following years of political repression under former President Nicolás Maduro, HRW reports that its application is opaque and unfair. While authorities claim over 8,600 people have benefited, at least 457 political prisoners remain incarcerated, including prominent opposition leaders, journalists, and human rights defenders. The law restricts eligibility to specific contexts and allows judges, who lack independence from the executive branch, to deny requests based on vague provisions. HRW findings indicate that courts have refused new petitions, denied access to case files, and failed to provide legal explanations for rejections. Notable figures such as Perkins Rocha and Javier Tarazona have been excluded. HRW urges Venezuelan authorities to ensure unconditional release for all arbitrarily detained persons and to apply the law transparently, arguing that current procedures undermine the legislation's limited promise of justice and reconciliation.