Jailed Venezuelan protesters could all be free by next Friday

The head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, said on Friday that all prisoners expected to be granted clemency by a pending amnesty law could walk free within a week.



Rodriguez said in a video posted on his Telegram account that the government's amnesty law, which would grant clemency to people jailed for participating in political protests or critiquing public figures, is expected to receive final approval on Tuesday, and people would start being released that day.



"We hope that between next Tuesday and Friday, at the latest, they will all be free," said Rodriguez, who is the brother of Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez.



On Thursday, the amnesty bill passed unanimously in the first of two necessary votes at the National Assembly, which is controlled by the socialist ruling party.