Venezuelan Students Rally Nationwide Demanding Full Amnesty and Prisoner Release

The Venezuelan Student Movement organized extensive demonstrations across the nation on Thursday, February 12, 2026, coinciding with National Youth Day, an observance commemorating the 1814 Battle of La Victoria. The central objectives of this significant opposition mobilization were the unconditional release of all political detainees and the legislative passage of a comprehensive amnesty law. This event represented the largest demonstration of its kind since January 2025, signaling continued civic engagement following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3 in Caracas.

Protests spanned a minimum of 17 states, with the primary gathering in Caracas converging on the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) campus, where hundreds assembled. Demonstrators articulated their demands with slogans referencing the ongoing, yet incomplete, releases of detainees, such as "Not one, not two, let it be all!" Families of those still held carried banners calling for peace, including messages like "This February 12 is not a war to the death, it is peace," while also demanding the closure of alleged centers of torture.

Historically, Youth Day honors the Battle of La Victoria, where José Félix Ribas led young combatants against Royalist forces in 1814, establishing a symbol of youth as a transformative social force. Concurrently, the Parliament, controlled by the ruling party, postponed the second and final debate on the proposed Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence until the next ordinary session. This legislative delay was reportedly due to internal disagreements, specifically concerning Article 7, which requires beneficiaries to "present themselves to justice."

The amnesty project, advanced by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, is intended to cover political cases dating back to 1999. However, activists like Hiowanka Ávila, sister of detainee Henryberth Rivas who has been held since 2018, criticized the government's proposal, estimating that temporal restrictions or specific case exclusions could disqualify over 400 political prisoners. Data from the non-governmental organization Foro Penal indicated that while 431 releases had been verified since the process began on January 8, 2026, the organization estimated that more than 600 individuals remained imprisoned for political reasons as of February 10, 2026.

Opposition leader Carlos Fernández of Vente Joven characterized the large mobilization as proof that "fear is over," reflecting renewed confidence in public dissent. Meanwhile, Miguel Ángel Suárez, President of the Federation of University Centers (FCU) at UCV, maintained that the movement would sustain pressure until the full restoration of civil and political rights, framing the action as essential for a "democratic transition." Questions remain regarding the legislative process, including the exclusion of youth leadership, such as Yeissel Pérez, President of the FCU at the University of Zulia (LUZ), from the public consultation phase for the draft law.

Legal experts have scrutinized the scope of the proposed law, arguing that mandating that victims ask for forgiveness distorts transitional justice principles and constitutes a form of revictimization, despite Rodríguez's stated goal of healing political divisions. The broader political context includes the transformation of the El Helicoide detention center, which has been denounced as a torture facility, into a cultural hub—a move met with cautious optimism by affected families. The political climate remains tense as the fate of the amnesty bill hinges on resolving internal government friction over its precise limitations and beneficiary criteria.