More than 200 political prisoners in Venezuela have launched a hunger strike at Rodeo I prison on the outskirts of Caracas, protesting their exclusion from a newly approved amnesty law.
The protest began late on Friday after inmates concluded that the legislation passed by Venezuela’s National Assembly would not apply to many of them. While the law is designed to release political detainees, it excludes cases linked to military charges, terrorism and other serious offence categories that affect a significant number of prisoners at Rodeo I.
Families say around 214 detainees, including Venezuelan nationals and several foreign citizens, are participating in the hunger strike. Relatives argue that many of those excluded have been held for years on what they describe as politically motivated charges.
One of the detainees, Argentine national Nahuel Agustin Gallo, is among those who do not qualify under the new law because he faces terrorism-related accusations. Family members and advocacy groups say the exclusions leave numerous prisoners without a clear legal path to release.
The unrest inside the prison follows sweeping political changes earlier this year. In January, former president Nicolás Maduro was captured during a US operation and transferred to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. In the aftermath, acting leader Delcy Rodríguez introduced a series of reforms, including the amnesty bill intended to address long-standing criticism over political detentions.
However, opposition figures and human rights organisations say the law falls short of meaningful reconciliation. They argue that excluding military personnel and those accused of terrorism undermines the stated goal of resolving politically sensitive cases. Although some prisoners have been released in recent days, with several walking free from Rodeo I on Sunday, many remain behind bars.
The International Committee of the Red Cross visited the prison on Sunday, marking its first authorised access to the facility. Filippo Gatti, the organisation’s health coordinator for Venezuela, described the visit as an initial step towards assessing prison conditions and monitoring the wellbeing of inmates participating in the hunger strike.
Under the legislation, an estimated 11,000 former detainees who had previously been paroled or placed under house arrest are eligible for amnesty. More than 1,500 current prisoners have reportedly applied under the new framework. Yet families of those excluded continue to press for broader coverage, warning that partial measures may prolong political tensions.
As the hunger strike continues, attention is focused on whether authorities will amend the law or expand its scope. The outcome could shape Venezuela’s political stability, its human rights record and its efforts to rebuild institutional credibility after years of domestic and international scrutiny.
