CARACAS — More than 1,500 people detained in Venezuela for political reasons have applied for amnesty under a newly enacted law and are set to be released, authorities said Saturday.National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez said 405 applications were initially filed by detainees, followed by 1,152 additional requests, bringing the total to 1,557.“These are being addressed immediately, and at this moment hundreds of people deprived of liberty are already being released under the amnesty law,” Rodriguez said.The measure approved Thursday is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, journalists and others. Its passage follows last month’s US military raid in Caracas that captured President Nicolas Maduro.The legislation excludes individuals convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, grave human rights abuses or military rebellion.Rights groups have called on authorities to extend the measure to all those detained for political reasons. Alfredo Romero, head of Foro Penal, said excluding imprisoned military personnel and political figures would be discriminatory and unconstitutional.Rodriguez said the law also applies to individuals under alternative detention measures such as house arrest or reporting requirements, which will be lifted to grant full freedom.He added that authorities are reviewing requests from more than 11,000 individuals under alternative detention regimes within the justice system, to be examined by the Dennis Law monitoring committee.Acting President Delcy Rodriguez described the measure as a step toward opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela.
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