Caracas, Venezuela – Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Caracas on Friday, demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Demonstrators decried their detention in the United States as illegal and a violation of national sovereignty.
The massive gathering, held in the heart of the capital, saw protesters waving large banners, one prominently displaying the message, ‘We want them back,’ directly appealing for the return of the President and First Lady to Venezuela.
The timing of the demonstrations coincided with the anniversary of the fall of the military dictatorship in 1958, lending a symbolic and politically charged dimension to the protests.
Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of Interior, stated in televised remarks that ‘the greatest victory at this stage is the return of President Maduro and his wife,’ emphasizing the strength and unity of the internal front. He also affirmed that interim President Delcy Rodriguez has the full support of the ruling party to continue her duties, despite reports of communication channels with the Trump administration.
Adding to the pressure, President Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Jr., a member of parliament, delivered a formal letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging the immediate release of his parents. He accused the United States of carrying out an ‘armed operation,’ kidnapping them, and transporting them to New York.
The United States announced the arrest of Maduro and Flores on January 3rd, following a military operation, before transferring them to US soil. Subsequently, former President Trump declared that the US would oversee a transitional period in Venezuela, opening the door for American companies to invest in the oil sector.
During his initial court appearance in New York, Maduro rejected the charges against him, which included drug trafficking and possession of automatic weapons, describing himself as a ‘prisoner of war’.
