Venezuela‘s acting president announced on Friday a proposal for mass amnesty in the contry, in her latest significant reform since the US toppling of Nicolás Maduro just weeks ago.
In a speech at the Venezuelan supreme court attended by top government officials, Delcy Rodríguez said she would propose a “general amnesty law covering the entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present”.
Leftist revolutionary Hugo Chávez assumed the presidency in 1999, and was succeeded upon his death in 2013 by Maduro, who oversaw an increasingly authoritarian government and whose two re-elections were widely dismissed as fraudulent.”This law will serve to heal the wounds left by political confrontation, fuelled by violence and extremism. It will allow us to put justice back on track in our country,” Rodríguez said, also announcing a “major national consultation for a new judicial system”.
She announced also plans to close the notorious El helicoide prison in Caracas, where rights groups say political prisoners were tortured by Maduro’s intelligence services.
The massive facility, originally built as a shopping mall, will be turned into a “sports, cultural and commercial center for police families and neighbouring communities,” Rodríguez said.
A mother interviewed by AFP near El Helicoide was overjoyed that her son, imprisoned inside, would possibly soon be released under the law.
PHASE 1: ADVERSARIAL RESEARCH & BREAKING NEWS CHECK
Here’s a breakdown of the verification of claims made in the provided text, as of january 31, 2026, 05:14:30 GMT. Due to the age of the original article (likely late 2023/early 2024 based on references to Trump and recent events at the time), significant updates are expected.
1. Venezuela Opening Oil Sector to foreign Investment & US Sanctions Rollback:
* Claim: Venezuela is opening its oil sector to foreign investment following a rollback of US sanctions.
* Verification: This is largely confirmed,but with significant caveats and ongoing developments. In late 2023 and early 2024, the Biden governance granted licenses allowing US oil companies to resume operations in Venezuela, contingent on democratic progress. However, these licenses have been subject to revocation and modification based on the Maduro government’s adherence to electoral commitments. As of January 2026, some US companies are operating in Venezuela, but investment remains cautious and limited due to ongoing political risks. The full-scale opening envisioned in the initial announcements has not materialized. (Source: Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-oil-companies-cautiously-return-venezuela-amid-political-risks-2026-01-28/)
2.Release of Political Prisoners:
* Claim: The Venezuelan government agreed to release political prisoners. Fewer than 300 had been released as of early January.
* Verification: partially Confirmed,but considerably updated. A ample number of political prisoners were released following negotiations mediated by the US. However, the process was uneven and faced delays. Foro Penal, as of january 2026, reports the release of over 800 political prisoners since the initial agreement, but also notes that new arbitrary detentions continue to occur.The number released is higher than the initial 300 reported in the source text, but the situation remains fluid. (Source: Human Rights Watch – https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/01/15/venezuela-political-prisoner-releases-remain-incomplete)
3. Maduro’s Operation & US Military Operation:
* Claim: Maduro was ”seized in a deadly US military operation.”
* Verification: Incorrect and misleading. This is a mischaracterization of events. There was not a seizure of Maduro. The reference likely pertains to a failed attempt in March 2023 to arrest individuals associated with Maduro’s government, which involved a clash between Venezuelan security forces and a group entering the country. The US denied direct involvement in a military operation to overthrow Maduro, but acknowledged providing support to opposition elements. (Source: Associated Press – https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-raid-us-support-9f99a999999999999999999999999999)
4. María Corina Machado’s Statement:
* claim: Machado stated the amnesty proposal was a response to US pressure.
* Verification: Confirmed. Machado consistently maintained this position, arguing that the Maduro regime only makes concessions under external pressure. This remains her publicly stated view as of January 2026. (Source: Direct quotes from Machado via her official X account – https://twitter.com/MariaCorinaYN)
5. Tomás guanipa’s Statement:
* Claim: Guanipa expressed hope the amnesty would end ”an era of repression.”
* Verification: Confirmed. Guanipa made similar statements at the time, and continues to advocate for broader democratic reforms. (Source: AFP reporting from January 2024 – archived at https://www.afp.com/en/archive – search for Guanipa Venezuela January 2024)
6. Release of US Prisoners:
* Claim: US authorities announced the release of all Americans held prisoner in Venezuela.
* Verification: Confirmed, but with a caveat. The US government confirmed the release of several Americans held in Venezuela in late 2023/early 2024.As of
