Relatives of people considered political prisoners maintain a hunger strike in the midst of the debate on the amnesty law, scheduled for this Thursday, February 19 in the Venezuelan Assembly. Although the loved ones of those affected demand that the Delcy Rodríguez Administration fulfill its promise regarding releases, cooperation between Washington and Caracas seems to be strengthening. The US Secretary of Energy assured that his country sees “tremendous progress” in aspects such as security and the release of prisoners and the reopening to the press.
First modification: 02/19/2026 - 13:44 Last modification: 02/19/2026 - 14:34
Under a red awning installed in front of the National Police headquarters in Caracas, known as Zone 7, four women remain lying on mattresses spread on the asphalt. They were part of an initial group of ten that began a hunger strike on February 14 and this Thursday the 19th marks its sixth consecutive day, coinciding with the resumption of the debate in the National Assembly on the amnesty law for people considered political prisoners.
The protesters receive constant medical check-ups due to their deteriorating health. They can barely stand up and a blackboard placed next to them counts the hours of the protest.
"Our hunger strike is a desperate but peaceful action in the face of prolonged injustice. We only demand freedom, dignity and respect for human rights," says a statement read on Wednesday by relatives gathered at the scene, on the eve of the parliamentary debate.
The protest will continue "until my body can endure it," Narwin Gil, a relative of one of those detained in the Zone 7 cells, told the AFP news agency. The protesters demand "freedom for all political prisoners because they are not criminals."
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The legislative debate on the amnesty was suspended on February 12 when consensus was not reached on an article that, according to family members, would not guarantee the immediate release of all detainees. “We are not waiting for an amnesty law,” said Gil, who insists on the innocence of his brother-in-law, José Gregorio Farfán. “We are waiting for the freedom of our relatives.”
Doctor Rafael Arreaza, who held the Ministry of Health between 1996 and 1999, visited the strikers on Thursday morning. He warned that “after 100 hours without eating the alterations throughout the body are manifested very clearly” and confirmed that one of the participants had to leave the protest after presenting “a very serious hypertensive crisis.”
In total, six women have left the strike on medical advice. The health of the remaining four continues to deteriorate. Gil reported that she was on the verge of fainting: “I became very cold, my heart started beating very hard, but my fellow fighters helped me and I stabilized.”
Arreaza explained that he is holding talks to allow doctors to enter the detention center in order to evaluate the state of health of the political prisoners, a condition that, he noted, could facilitate the lifting of the strike. So far, the applications have been rejected.
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"We have seen tremendous progress in Venezuela": US
Despite the slowness in the releases of people considered political prisoners, since they were announced last January by the president of the Venezuelan Assembly, Jorde Rodrígez – brother of the president in charge of the Chavista Administration – the United States considers that Caracas has shown enormous progress.
The Secretary of Energy of the United States, Chris Wright, stated this Thursday from Paris that in the last six weeks they have seen “tremendous progress in Venezuela”, in aspects such as “the security situation on the ground, the release of political prisoners and the beginning of the opening of the press.”
Wright, who visited Caracas last week, attributed these advances to “the innovative and unusual diplomacy” of President Donald Trump. "How can we drive massive positive change in a nation without American troops on the ground and without spending American taxpayer money? We are delighted with what is happening in Venezuela," he said.
The official avoided commenting on future scenarios, but reiterated that Washington's objective is "to see great progress in Venezuela for the benefit of the Venezuelan people, the American people and Western countries."
During his visit, Wright met with the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, with the intention of promoting a long-term energy agreement. The trip marked the first visit by a senior US official after the events of January, when Nicolás Maduro was captured along with his wife, Cilia Flores, in a context of political tensions and bilateral decisions aimed at facilitating oil investment.
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With AFP and EFE
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