Venezuela Acting President Proposes Amnesty, Orders El Helicoide Closed
Rodríguez proposed a general amnesty on Jan. 30, 2025 covering 1999 to the present and ordered the closure of El Helicoide prison.
Overview
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Jan. 30, 2025 proposed a general amnesty covering 1999 to the present that could free hundreds and ordered closure of El Helicoide prison, according to her prerecorded televised address.
The bill follows Rodríguez's takeover after the Jan. 3 seizure of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, an event marked by conflicting accounts from Venezuelan and U.S. officials and renewed U.S.-backed opposition pressure.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado said in a statement that the actions were taken 'in response to pressure from the U.S. government,' according to her post.
Foro Penal estimates 711 people are detained for political activities, 183 have been sentenced, and the group reported 302 releases since the government's Jan. 8 announcement, according to the group's tally.
Rodríguez instructed the ruling party-controlled National Assembly to take up the bill 'with urgency,' according to her speech, while the government has not released the bill text and eligibility criteria remain unclear.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story skeptically toward the government by foregrounding allegations of torture, Helicoide abuses and human-rights tallies while underscoring opposition and U.S.-linked pressure. Language choices (e.g., “torture,” “repressive apparatus”), privileging watchdogs and relatives’ voices, and noting the missing bill text create a critical narrative.
Sources (6)
FAQ
El Helicoide is a notorious prison in Caracas run by SEBIN, long denounced for political repression, torture, and human rights abuses, symbolizing authoritarian rule in Venezuela.[1]
The amnesty covers political violence from 1999 to the present, potentially freeing hundreds of political prisoners, but excludes those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption, or human rights violations.[2]
Foro Penal estimates 711 people detained for political activities, with 183 sentenced; 302 have been released since January 8, though numbers vary by source up to 816 remaining.[3]
Rodríguez announced El Helicoide will be transformed into a sports, social, and cultural center.[2]
The proposal follows the January 3, 2025, seizure of Nicolás Maduro, amid U.S.-backed opposition pressure; opposition leader María Corina Machado attributes it to U.S. government pressure.[2]
History
3 sources