Venezuela's head of Parliament on Friday (February 6, 2026) promised the speedy release of remaining political prisoners during a meeting with their relatives in which he promised to correct the government's "mistakes". It was not clear whether he was referring to all remaining political prisoners — estimated to number around 700 by rights groups — or only those being held at Zona 7. The text "excludes large groups of civilian and military political prisoners," "does not establish mechanisms for reparation to victims" and "does not guarantee the safe return of exiles," the Democratic Unitary Platform coalition said in a statement. "As soon as the law is adopted, they (prisoners) will also be released the same day," he said. "I told him to please do it for my children, for me, for all the political prisoners," she told AFP.

Source: The Hindu February 07, 2026 07:30 UTC