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Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced that his government plans to release all political prisoners by February 13 at the latest.
Friday’s announcement was seen as a positive step toward addressing human rights violations under the leadership of former President Nicolas Maduro.
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But critics have long been skeptical of the promises of Venezuela’s government, which continues to be led by close allies of President Maduro.
Rodriguez met with families of political prisoners in the capital, Caracas, and set a clear deadline for mass releases.
“We hope that everyone will be released from next Tuesday to Friday at the latest,” Rodriguez, the younger brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, said outside the Zona 7 detention center.
He added that he would “correct all the mistakes” made by the government during the Chavismo movement, founded by the late President Hugo Chávez and continued under Maduro.
His remarks came a day after Congress unanimously approved the amnesty bill in the first of two votes before final passage.
The law aims to exempt people charged with or convicted of crimes related to political leanings or protests. Under Maduro, dissidents were often charged with crimes such as treason, terrorism and spreading hatred.
The bill would also lift bans that prevent opposition figures, such as Nobel laureate Maria Colina Machado, from running for public office.
However, the amnesty does not apply to crimes such as murder, human rights violations, and corruption.
A second and final vote on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday. Rodriguez indicated that mass releases would begin once the bill is signed into law.
“As soon as the law is adopted, they will also be released on the same day,” he said on Friday.
Maduro’s government has long been accused of suppressing political dissent through arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings.
But on January 3, US President Donald Trump authorized a military operation to transport Mr Maduro and his wife, Syria Flores, to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.
Since then, the Trump administration has been pressuring interim President Delcy Rodriguez to comply with its demands, particularly regarding the sale and extraction of Venezuelan oil.
But regime officials have also repeatedly criticized Maduro’s human rights record. This week’s deadline for prisoner release, along with the amnesty law, is likely to be hailed as a victory for President Trump.
Still, there are concerns about whether commitment to human rights will be maintained and justice will be served for alleged abusers within the government.
The Venezuelan government has announced that it has already released 900 political prisoners.
However, human rights organizations such as Foro Penal have recorded a much lower number, closer to 383. Foro Penal estimates that nearly 680 people remain in prison for political activities.
There were also reports that released prisoners were subject to gag orders that prevented them from speaking out about their arrest and detention.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International said 14 journalists had been detained and released in the aftermath of Maduro’s abduction, with others reporting harassment and intimidation from pro-government forces.
He also argued that Venezuela’s laws restricting free speech and political activity remain in place, while those in power under Maduro remain in power.
Amnesty International said it “welcomed” the amnesty bill and other measures, but warned there was no guarantee that past abuses would not be repeated.
“Crimes against humanity will not end with Maduro’s removal,” said Agnes Callamard, the group’s secretary-general.
“Venezuelan victims, survivors, and their families continue to suffer physical and psychological scars. The fate and whereabouts of many of those subject to enforced disappearances remain unresolved. The state apparatus responsible for these crimes remains well-functioning and is currently supported by the involvement of U.S. authorities.”
Callamard also criticized the United States’ abduction of Maduro, calling it a violation of international law.
“The Trump administration’s use of force is not only illegal, it encourages illegal actions by other countries and could invite future similar actions by the United States,” she said.
In addition to releasing political prisoners, the Venezuelan government also announced plans to close one of the country’s most notorious prisons, El Helicoid Prison, a pyramid-shaped structure in Caracas with a reputation as a torture site.
