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

B100219/2026

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

(2026/2704(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas on 3 January an illegal United States military intervention in Venezuela, culminated in the abduction and transfer of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores and the murder of 81 people, including 32 Cuban military personnel; whereas this act constitutes a blatant violation of international law, including Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations, and represents a grave breach of the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention;

Whereas Nicolás Maduro is currently detained in the US awaiting legal proceedings, while Venezuelan authorities characterize him as a political prisoner and UN experts stress the illegality of its forced abduction;

Whereas following the abduction, the Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, assumed executive power; whereas the functioning of the government has taken place under continuous coercion from the Trump administration;

Whereas the Venezuelan National Assembly adopted an Amnesty Law aimed at releasing political detainees and addressing past political conflicts, resulting in the release or review of thousands of cases, although concerns persist regarding its scope, implementation and potential to entrench impunity; whereas Delcy Rodriguez announced that there would be a process for reviewing the cases that were excluded from the law;

Firmly condemns the unlawful use of force and imperialist actions that violate the sovereignty of Venezuela and international law, including the abduction of the Venezuelan President and his wife; calls for their immediate release and his full restoration as Head of State;

Calls to respect the rights of all detainees including Maduro and urges the release of those detained for exercising their fundamental rights;

Recognizes the importance of the Amnesty Law and calls for its implementation in line with international human rights obligations including the prohibition of amnesties for serious human rights violations emphasises the need for the Law to be complemented with other reforms to resolve the current crisis;

Call on Venezuelan authorities to allow international human rights monitors, including the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission, access to monitor the application of the law, as well as the country’s human rights situation;

Strongly condemns any attempts to seize, control or exploit Venezuelan oil resources and related assets, including through coercive economic measures, sanctions or extraterritorial enforcement, as forms of neo-colonial extraction;

Reaffirms the right of the Venezuelan people to self-determination, free from external interference and coercion; in that sense, condemns the interference of US and calls for a genuinely autonomous European foreign policy grounded in peace, diplomacy, international solidarity and social priorities;

Highlights that the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future including their right to elect their Head of State, must be respected and it´s the only way for Venezuela to resolve the current crisis;

Urges the US to cease all actions that violate Venezuelan sovereignty, international law and the fundamental rights of its people;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Venezuelan authorities.