On shortcomings and deficiencies of the ‘Amnesty Law’ in Venezuela

B100218/2026

European Parliament resolution on shortcomings and deficiencies of the ‘Amnesty Law’ in Venezuela

(2026/2704(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on 3 January 2026, the United States conducted a military intervention resulting in the abduction and removal of Nicolás Maduro;

whereas following these events, Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim President of Venezuela;

whereas between January and March 2026, individuals arbitrarily detained for political reasons were released;

whereas on February 19, the Legislative Assembly approved an Amnesty Law; whereas on April 23 Venezuela’s interim President announced the end of Amnesty Law;

whereas the National Assembly amended the Organic Hydrocarbons Law;

Strongly condemns the United States’ military intervention in Venezuela as a violation of international law and of the Charter of the United Nations; reaffirms its strong commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation, and the central role of the UN;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained persons or those subjected to politically motivated proceedings; stresses that an amnesty law is not required for release; urges Attorney General Devoe and Ombudswoman González to prevent institutional persecution by advancing petitions for release, reviewing all pending cases ex officio, closing unjustified cases, and ensuring full transparency, due process, and protection of rights;

Regrets that the Amnesty Law neither guaranteed victims’ rights to justice, prosecution of perpetrators, and full reparation, nor acknowledges the full responsibility of authorities for human rights violations; condemns its arbitrary implementation, including the systematic erasure of detention records, and calls on Venezuelan authorities to immediately preserve and restore all such records in line with the rights to truth, memory, and justice;

Calls for opening political space through a transitional government with broad participation and a clear roadmap to restore constitutional order and hold free, fair, and credible elections;

Calls for unrestricted, secure, and independent access for international human rights monitoring bodies, including official country visits conducted by the United Nations and other relevant mechanisms;

Calls for full cooperation with UN-coordinated humanitarian efforts in Venezuela, ensuring safe, unrestricted access for aid delivery and assistance in line with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence; and for the adoption of measures to guarantee an enabling operational environment for humanitarian actors across all areas of need;

Calls on the authorities to take prompt measures to reform key judicial and electoral institutions and repeal abusive laws restricting the work of independent civil society and criminalising opponents or human rights defender;

Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to ensure full transparency and accountability in the management and allocation of oil revenues; expresses concern over the involvement of foreign companies, including United States enterprises, in arrangements that may undermine the equitable distribution of national hydrocarbon wealth for the benefit of the Venezuelan people;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Venezuelan authorities.