Venezuelan lawmakers on Thursday passed new legislation that gives amnesty to hundreds of people who were prosecuted or convicted for political reasons during 27 years of authoritarian rule.
Rights groups and opposition members have cautiously welcomed the law, saying it offers an opportunity to ease the suffering of many, but that the process must be transparent and held to account.
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, who came to power after a US military operation removed President Nicolás Maduro, proposed the new amnesty law last month under pressure from Washington.
The law will grant general amnesty to political prisoners processed or convicted since 1999 – the…