Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Caracas over the weekend as Venezuela’s political landscape undergoes dramatic shifts following the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro. The interim government of Delcy Rodriguez has initiated prisoner releases in what appears to be a carefully orchestrated diplomatic opening toward Washington.
Interim President Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, has committed to pursuing “the diplomatic route” with the United States. This policy shift has resulted in the liberation of several prominent opposition figures, though human rights organizations note that approximately twenty individuals have been freed thus far—far fewer than the “large” number initially promised.
From his detention facility in New York, Maduro conveyed through his son that he remains “doing well” following his dramatic capture on January 3rd. US forces apprehended Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during overnight airstrikes across Caracas, extraditing them to face trial on drug-trafficking and weapons charges.
The prisoner release initiative has generated both hope and anxiety among Venezuelan families. Outside notorious detention facilities like El Rodeo and El Helicoide, relatives maintained candlelight vigils while displaying signs bearing names of incarcerated loved ones. The atmosphere turned tragic with reports of a detained police officer’s death in state custody, which opposition group Primero Justicia attributed directly to the Rodriguez regime.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump claimed credit for Venezuela’s political transformations, announcing on his Truth Social platform that the country had “started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners.” Trump administration officials have pressed for access to Venezuela’s substantial oil reserves, though industry executives responded cautiously due to the country’s deteriorated infrastructure following years of mismanagement and sanctions.
The geopolitical ramifications extended to Cuba, with Trump warning Havana to “make a deal” or face consequences as Venezuelan oil exports diminish. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded defiantly, asserting Cuba’s sovereignty and readiness to “defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.”
Despite organized demonstrations featuring approximately 1,000 supporters waving flags with Maduro’s image, the protests notably lacked participation from top figures within the former administration, signaling potential fractures within the political establishment.