Nearly 2,200 people have benefitted from Venezuela amnesty law

Nearly 2,200 people have been released from Venezuelan jails or had other legal restrictions withdrawn since the start of a new amnesty law, ruling party lawmaker Jorge Arreaza said on Monday.



The law, passed last week, has been critiqued by human rights organizations which say it falls short of offering relief for hundreds of political prisoners.



It provides amnesty for involvement in political protests and "violent actions" during specific months between 2002 and 2025, but does not detail the exact crimes that are eligible.



Though the government has always denied holding political prisoners and says those jailed have committed crimes, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez had already released hundreds of people who rights groups classify as political prisoners prior to the passage of the law.



The effort is seen as part of a package of deals key to normalizing relations with the U.S. following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January.