Venezuela: Prisoners on Hunger Strike as Amnesty Law Falls Short

Caracas – Twenty-three prisoners were released in Venezuela on Sunday under a recently enacted amnesty law, according to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal. The releases reach as more than 200 prisoners began a hunger strike, claiming exclusion from the law’s provisions.

Among those freed are at least seven members of the political party Vente Venezuela, associated with opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado. Juan Freites, a leading figure within the party, was among those released, prompting a message of welcome from Machado on X: “Welcome home, my dear Juan! Your family, your mother, your sisters and your entire Vente family, we never stopped fighting. Soon we will embrace each other in freedom!”

The amnesty law, promised by interim President Delcy Rodriguez under pressure from Washington, has so far led to the release of 379 political prisoners. However, a total of 1,557 detainees have applied for release under the law’s terms, according to Rodriguez. The hunger strike underscores growing discontent among those who believe they have been unfairly excluded from the amnesty.

The move towards prisoner releases is part of a broader effort by Rodriguez to normalize relations with the United States, which were severed in 2019. This shift followed the capture of President Nicolas Maduro during a U.S. Military operation on January 3rd, which led to Rodriguez assuming power. France24 reported in February 2025 that at least five Americans were being held in Venezuelan prisons, a situation that likely factored into the ongoing negotiations with Washington.

The releases also follow the liberation of six U.S. Citizens in January, following discussions between Caracas and Washington, as reported by RFI. Arturo Gallino Rullier, an American-Peruvian detainee, was released in late January, according to Foro Penal. Ouest-France detailed his case.

Despite these developments, the situation remains fluid. The ongoing hunger strike and the large number of outstanding applications for release suggest continued tensions and uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the amnesty law. The Venezuelan government has not yet responded to the hunger strike, leaving the fate of the protesting prisoners unresolved.