Venezuela Advances Landmark Amnesty Bill, Omits Serious Human Rights Abuses

• Venezuela's parliament initially approved a landmark amnesty bill aimed at covering charges used to imprison dissidents under former leaders Nicolas Maduro and Hugo Chavez.
• The bill, spearheaded by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, is seen as a milestone in the post-Maduro transition and seeks national reconciliation.
• It covers charges like "treason," "terrorism," and spreading "hate," frequently used against dissidents, and lifts bans on opposition members running for office, including Maria Corina Machado.
• Crucially, the legislation does not grant amnesty for serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, or drug trafficking.
• The bill's approval has sparked hope for the release of hundreds of political prisoners and is viewed as a framework to prevent past conflicts from derailing transition processes.