Rights groups critical as Venezuela prisoner release scheme 'coming to an end'

More than 500 political prisoners are thought to still be in jail, despite the releases since the amnesty law was brought in.

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Nearly 500 political prisoners have been released under the amnesty law brought in by the country's National Assembly, prisoner rights group Foro Penal says, but many more are thought to still be in jail.

The group said Rodríguez lacked the power to end the releases, while watchdog Provea called the move "arbitrary and unconstitutional".

Despite being a lieutenant of former President Nicolás Maduro, Rodríguez has enjoyed the support of Donald Trump since US forces seized Maduro in January.

The US president surprised many by backing Rodríguez over opposition leader María Corina Machado, and the release of political prisoners - including Machado's colleagues - was a key concession to the US by the interim administration.