"The move is in line with a new law, giving hope to throngs of others jailed over alleged plots to oust the government. Venezuelan authorities have granted amnesty to 379 political prisoners, according to a lawmaker, after a new law was enacted by interim authorities following the United States' abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's National Assembly unanimously adopted the law on Thursday, providing hope that hundreds of political prisoners may soon be released."
"Opposition figures have criticised the new legislation, which appears to include carve-outs for some offences previously used by authorities to target Maduro's political opponents. It explicitly does not apply to those prosecuted for promoting or facilitating armed or forceful actions against Venezuela's sovereignty by foreign actors. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has levelled such accusations against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who hopes to return to Venezuela at some point from the US."
Interim authorities enacted a new amnesty law and Venezuela's National Assembly unanimously adopted it, resulting in authorities granting amnesty to 379 political prisoners. National Assembly deputy Jorge Arreaza said those prisoners must be released between tonight and tomorrow morning and that prosecutors have submitted requests to courts for amnesty measures. The law excludes those accused of promoting or facilitating armed actions against Venezuela's sovereignty by foreign actors and excludes security-force members convicted of terrorism-related activities. Military justice will handle relevant armed-forces cases. Hundreds have already received conditional release since the US raid that seized Maduro, and Foro Penal notes amnesty requires court procedures.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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