Nearly 2,200 people have been released or had restrictions lifted under Venezuela’s new amnesty law, a key step in normalising US relations.

CARACAS: Nearly 2,200 people have been released from Venezuelan jails or had other legal restrictions withdrawn since the start of a new amnesty law.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 provided the figures on Monday.

He said 177 releases have taken place and 2,021 people under presentation restrictions have been given full liberations.

Arreaza is the president of the legislative commission monitoring the law’s implementation.

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The law came into effect on Friday and provides amnesty for involvement in political protests and “violent actions” during specific months between 2002 and 2025.

It does not detail the exact crimes eligible for amnesty.

Human rights organisations have critiqued the law, saying it falls short of offering relief for hundreds of political prisoners.

The government has always denied holding political prisoners, saying those jailed have committed crimes.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez had already released hundreds of people classed as political prisoners by rights groups prior to the law’s passage.

This effort is seen as part of a package of deals key to normalising relations with the US.

More than 3,000 requests have been made by attorneys on behalf of prisoners who want to benefit from the law.

Alfredo Romero, director of legal rights group Foro Penal, said more than 30 people were released from the Rodeo detention centre near Caracas on Monday.

This joins others released from various facilities over the weekend.

Foro Penal said on Sunday more than 460 people have been freed since January 8.

This count does not include those released from prison but given house arrest or other restrictive measures.

 The Sun Malaysia