Venezuela’s National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law, raising hopes for the release of hundreds of political leaders imprisoned for anti-government activities. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed office after Nicolás Maduro’s detention in a U.S. military operation on January 3, signed the bill at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas. The law covers incidents dating back to 1999, including the coup attempt against Hugo Chávez, the 2002 oil strike, and unrest following Maduro’s disputed 2024 re-election. However, those accused or convicted of inciting or participating in military actions against the state are excluded.

Public concern remains that the government might use the law to pardon its own supporters while denying freedom to genuine political prisoners. The law’s Article 9 specifically excludes anyone involved in armed actions against Venezuela’s sovereignty with foreign assistance. UN human rights experts from Geneva urged that the law’s scope be limited to victims of rights violations and exclude perpetrators of serious crimes. According to rights group Foro Penal, around 450 detainees have been freed since Maduro’s fall, but over 600 remain imprisoned, with families continuing protests outside prisons.

The United States has taken new steps to further ease sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry. On Tuesday, the U.S. administration issued several measures that expand opportunities for American companies to participate in the Venezuelan energy sector. The U.S. Treasury Department granted multiple licenses, including one allowing specific transactions with the Venezuelan government and state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA). These permits cover the supply of goods, technology, and software necessary for oil and gas exploration, development, and production.

Another license authorizes certain transactions related to port and airport operations, while a third document allows specific activities involving oil originating from Venezuela. According to AFP reports from Washington, the decision coincides with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s planned visit to Venezuela, though no date has been announced. Media reports suggest oil sector discussions may take place during the visit.

Venezuela, under strict U.S. sanctions since 2019, holds nearly one-fifth of the world’s proven oil reserves and was once a major crude supplier to the United States.

Three prominent Venezuelan opposition politicians close to Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado were released from prison on Sunday, about a month after the start of a broader process to free political detainees following former president Nicolás Maduro’s ouster. The releases come just days before lawmakers are set to vote on a historic amnesty bill that would cover charges used to suppress dissent during nearly three decades of socialist rule.

Those freed include former National Assembly vice president Juan Pablo Guanipa, who shared a video showing his release papers and said he had spent ten months in hiding and nine months imprisoned. Machado’s former legal adviser Perkins Rocha and former Barinas governor-elect Freddy Superlano were also released. Human rights group Foro Penal confirmed 35 releases on Sunday and said about 400 political detainees have been freed since January 8, though roughly 700 remain jailed.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s vice president, described the amnesty initiative as a milestone toward national reconciliation. Her government has begun opening the oil sector and restoring diplomatic ties with Washington, severed in 2019.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has met with senior executives from Spain’s Repsol and France’s Maurel & Prom to discuss the country’s energy sector. The state-owned oil company PDVSA confirmed the meetings on Wednesday, describing them as the new administration’s first major talks with foreign investors since the ouster of Nicolás Maduro one month ago.

According to PDVSA’s separate statements, discussions with Repsol focused on ensuring Venezuela’s energy security and sovereignty while maintaining mutual interests and profitability. Talks with Maurel & Prom emphasized strengthening strategic partnerships aimed at increasing Venezuela’s oil production capacity.

Both Repsol and Maurel & Prom have long been involved in Venezuela’s oil production and trade, though their operations have faced disruptions in recent years due to strict U.S. sanctions.

The United States has returned the entire $500 million from an initial oil sale to the Venezuelan government as part of an agreement between Caracas and Washington. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously on Tuesday, confirmed that the final $200 million had already been transferred to Venezuela. The funds were returned under a deal reached last month following the January 3 U.S. military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained.

According to the U.S. official, the arrangement was designed to allow Venezuela to generate revenue from its own oil to pay salaries for teachers, firefighters, and police officers, and to maintain government operations. The money had been temporarily held in Qatar as a short-term measure to ensure that Venezuela could access the funds necessary for running its administration.

The official emphasized that the return of the funds was intended to prevent institutional collapse in Venezuela while maintaining essential public services.

Thousands of supporters marched through Caracas on Tuesday demanding the release of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was arrested a month ago following a deadly US military operation that removed him from power. Maduro was taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. The government-organized rally drew large numbers of public employees carrying images of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also detained during the operation.

Interim president Delcy Rodríguez faces a complex political situation, balancing Washington’s support while maintaining backing from Maduro loyalists within the government and society. Maduro’s son, National Assembly deputy Nicolás ‘Nicolasito’ Maduro Guerra, declared that Venezuelans reject US dominance and embrace anti-imperialist sentiment. Many demonstrators wore red, symbolizing the Chavista movement founded by Hugo Chávez.

Under pressure to normalize relations with the United States, Rodríguez’s government has begun releasing political prisoners and opening the state energy sector to private investment. The US envoy Laura Dogu outlined a three-step plan for building a stable and democratic Venezuela. Meanwhile, students and relatives of political detainees also marched, urging swift passage of a promised amnesty law.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for Chinese investment in Venezuela’s oil industry, saying Beijing is welcome to make major deals in the sector. He made the remarks aboard Air Force One while speaking to reporters, as Venezuela seeks new foreign investment following the removal of Nicolás Maduro and amid efforts to overcome a deep economic crisis.

Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, recently introduced legal reforms to ease private and foreign investment in its oil sector. Under Maduro, China had been the country’s main oil buyer, but Beijing condemned his January 3 arrest by U.S. forces, creating uncertainty about future ties. Trump also said interim President Delcy Rodríguez reached an energy cooperation agreement with India, which plans to buy Venezuelan oil instead of Iranian supplies.

Trump indicated that Washington and Caracas will share oil profits and that the U.S. is working closely with Venezuela’s new leadership. He further suggested that the U.S. may pursue a potential deal with Cuba, hinting at possible diplomatic openings.

After nearly seven years, the United States is taking steps to restore its diplomatic presence in Venezuela. On Saturday, the new top US envoy, Laura F. Dogu, arrived in Caracas and announced her arrival on social media, saying she and her team were ready to begin work. A State Department official said Dogu would engage with representatives from government, private sectors, and civil society to advance a three-step plan on Venezuela set by the US president and secretary of state.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto welcomed Dogu’s arrival, describing it as part of efforts to outline bilateral cooperation and resolve differences based on mutual respect and international law. Dogu currently serves as chargé d’affaires of the US Venezuela Affairs Unit based in Colombia, and her arrival in Caracas is seen as a significant public step toward restoring relations between the two countries.

The US withdrew its diplomats and suspended embassy operations in Caracas in 2019. Washington now plans to gradually reopen embassy functions and establish temporary diplomatic facilities, with Dogu expected to lead future operations from Caracas.

Venezuela has announced a general amnesty for all political prisoners detained since 1999 and decided to close a notorious detention center, sparking hope that the country’s long era of state repression may be ending. The move came less than a month after President Nicolás Maduro was ousted in a U.S.-led operation on January 3. Former vice president Delcy Rodríguez initiated several measures aimed at restoring the rule of law, seen as reflecting Washington’s longstanding demands. Families gathered outside the Rodeo-1 prison near Caracas celebrated the announcement with chants of freedom.

Opposition figures and citizens described the moment as the beginning of a new chapter for Venezuela. Former lawmaker Delsa Solórzano reappeared publicly after 17 months in hiding, saying the nation could feel the change. However, student leader Miguelángel Suárez and opposition leader María Corina Machado criticized Rodríguez for the slow pace of prisoner releases and questioned the government’s sincerity. Analysts noted that U.S. pressure has made political repression increasingly costly for the authorities.

While many Venezuelans expressed relief, some remained cautious, recalling the fear and trauma of the past 25 years under Maduro’s rule. Observers warned that it may be too early to call this a full political transformation.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced on Friday the introduction of a general amnesty law, marking her first major reform initiative since Nicolás Maduro was removed from power in a U.S.-led operation several weeks ago. Speaking at the Supreme Court in Caracas, Rodríguez said the proposed law would cover all incidents of political violence from 1999 to the present, aiming to heal political divisions, restore the justice system, and ensure good governance.

Rodríguez also declared the start of a national dialogue on judicial reform and the closure of the notorious El Helicoide prison, which human rights groups said had been used to torture political prisoners. The facility will be converted into a sports, cultural, and commercial center. Within four weeks of taking office, Rodríguez has moved quickly to introduce social and economic changes, including legislation opening Venezuela’s vital oil sector to private investment, leading the United States to lift sanctions on the industry.

The new administration’s reforms and release of political prisoners have been praised by U.S. President Donald Trump, and Washington is resuming diplomatic operations in Caracas, with diplomat Laura Doglu set to arrive as chargé d’affaires.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Wednesday that Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, could face the same fate as ousted former president Nicolas Maduro if she fails to comply with US conditions. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, Rubio said Rodriguez is well aware of Maduro’s downfall and that Washington believes her personal interests align with US objectives. He emphasized that the US is prepared to use force if other means fail, citing President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks.

Rubio strongly defended the January 3 US commando raid in Caracas that captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were later taken to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. He described the operation as a success that avoided American casualties or a prolonged military occupation. Venezuelan authorities, however, claimed that over a hundred Venezuelan and Cuban nationals were killed while trying to resist the raid.

President Trump is reportedly pressuring Rodriguez to ensure her government acts in favor of US oil company interests, according to the report.

The United States has started releasing Venezuelan funds that were frozen under sanctions, according to interim president Delcy Rodríguez. Speaking on state television from Caracas, Rodríguez said the assets owned by the Venezuelan people are being gradually freed and will be used to purchase medical equipment for hospitals from the United States and other countries. She did not specify the total amount being released.

Venezuela has been under strict US sanctions since 2019, following the disputed 2018 re-election of former president Nicolás Maduro. During Donald Trump’s first term, Washington froze large sums of Venezuelan assets abroad, which Maduro in 2022 claimed totaled about 30 billion dollars. After Maduro was ousted in a US military operation on January 3, Rodríguez’s interim government reached several agreements with Washington. Rodríguez said a framework of mutual respect and courtesy has been established with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As another sign of improving ties, the US announced that former diplomat Laura F. Dogu will serve as chargé d’affaires in Venezuela, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic relations severed in 2019.

Venezuela’s interim government has claimed that more than 800 political prisoners have been released since before December, following pressure from Washington. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office after Nicolás Maduro was ousted in a U.S. military operation last month, initiated the release process for those detained on anti-government charges. The effort had been slow until Saturday, when 100 prisoners were freed at once, though many families continue to wait outside prisons hoping for their relatives’ release.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on state television that 808 political prisoners had been freed since before December, but did not clarify the exact timeframe. Rodríguez earlier stated that 626 prisoners had been released since December, asserting that the process began under Maduro’s administration. In contrast, human rights group Foro Penal said it had verified only 383 releases, including some foreigners, and that 266 occurred after January 8 when the government announced all political prisoners would be freed.

Foro Penal’s vice president Gonzalo Himiob said the government’s figures do not match their observations, while Cabello rejected the criticism, saying NGOs lack full data and the government is not obliged to consult them.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has forecast that the country could attract around $1.4 billion in foreign investment in its oil sector in 2026. She said the projected amount would represent about a 55 percent increase compared to 2025 if planned reforms are implemented. Rodríguez made the remarks during a public consultation meeting with business leaders on opening the oil industry to private investment.

According to AFP reports from Caracas, Rodríguez explained that a proposed bill aimed at easing long-standing state control over the energy sector is awaiting final approval in parliament. She noted that last year’s oil investment stood at about $900 million, while contracts worth $1.4 billion have already been signed for the current year. She emphasized that Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, must regain a strong production position.

Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency on January 3 after U.S. special forces ousted Nicolás Maduro. She now faces U.S. pressure to grant American oil companies access to Venezuelan fields, a condition reportedly tied to former U.S. president Donald Trump’s support for her leadership.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez stated on Sunday that she has received 'enough' instructions from Washington, following the United States’ attack against ousted president Nicolás Maduro and his subsequent detention. Rodríguez made the remarks during a speech to oil workers in the eastern state of Anzoátegui.

In her address, Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuelan politicians have already received sufficient directives from Washington and called for an end to foreign interference. She urged that internal disagreements and political differences in Venezuela should be resolved domestically without external involvement.

Her comments, reported by AFP, come amid heightened tensions following U.S. actions against Maduro, signaling a call for national sovereignty and reduced foreign influence in Venezuela’s political affairs.