Venezuela's Supreme Court on Monday declared unconstitutional legislation passed by the opposition-controlled congress to free dozens of jailed politicians who are foes of President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government, according to the Daily Mail.

The decision by the government-stacked high court had been expected after Maduro criticized the law as an attempt to destabilize his rule and pardon activists he blames for deadly unrest in 2014.

The court ruled the legislation could not stand because it allowed for impunity, echoing the language Maduro has been using for months to attack the proposal.

The amnesty aimed to liberate 77 politicians, students and military officers jailed by Mr. Maduro and Mr. Chavez as early as 2003 for allegedly inciting violence or committing treason, according to the human-rights group Penal Forum, which helped draft the bill.

Source: MENA