As of February 23, 2026, the implementation of Venezuela's new amnesty law has come under increased scrutiny, with only 16 verified political prisoners released, a stark contrast to the government's claims of over 370. Rights groups continue to express concern over this significant discrepancy, indicating that the actual impact of the law may be far less than anticipated. Jesús Armas, one of the freed activists, shared his mixed feelings, stating, "I’m going to fight," while acknowledging the slow march towards democracy amidst ongoing political upheaval. Over 1,500 amnesty requests have been submitted, with opposition figures criticizing the legislation for including carve-outs for offenses previously used to target political opponents, as reported by The Hindu and The Guardian.