CARACAS – Thousands of people took to the streets of the Venezuelan capital on Monday to demand the release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following their arrest by U.S. military forces and transfer to the United States.
Demonstrators gathered near the National Assembly building in central Caracas, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting slogans in support of the detained president. According to pro-government media, protests calling for the release of what they describe as the “violently abducted” leader and his wife have been taking place since Saturday.
The daily newspaper El Universal reported that Monday’s demonstration was intended to send a clear message to the international community. “Venezolans want to make it clear that their country has a government, a sovereign state and institutions that will not submit to imperialist threats,” the newspaper wrote.
Maduro and Flores appeared before a judge in New York on Monday. They are facing charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism, according to U.S. authorities. The couple was taken to the United States during a nighttime military operation carried out over the weekend.
Following Maduro’s removal, former vice president Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president. The developments have deepened political tensions in the country, with supporters of the government mobilizing in the streets while opposition figures and international actors closely monitor the unfolding situation.
The protests underscore the deep divisions within Venezuelan society and highlight the broader regional and international implications of the U.S. intervention, as reactions continue to emerge both inside and outside the country.