Massive Protests Demand Maduro’s Release from U.S. Custody

Caracas, Venezuela — Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of the capital on Tuesday, 3 February, demanding the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from U.S. custody. The demonstration, organised under the banner of a “Gran Marcha” or “Grand Rally,” marked exactly one month since the couple was abducted.

On 3 January, a heavily armed night operation led by U.S. forces resulted in the arrest of Maduro and Flores, who were subsequently transported to the United States. Protesters carried banners, posters, and T-shirts featuring the president’s image, while chanting slogans such as “Nicolás is essential for Venezuela,” calling for their swift return to the country.

Speaking at the Caracas rally, Maduro’s son and National Assembly member Nicolás Maduro Guerra stated, “The seizure of my father has inflicted a permanent wound on Venezuelan history. A foreign military has defiled our sacred soil.” The march, organised under government auspices, saw significant participation from public sector employees.

Local media reported that the protest formed part of a “Global Day of Resistance,” with Venezuelan supporters around the world denouncing the couple’s detention as a violation of international law under the slogan “Hands Off Venezuela.”

In the president’s absence, interim leader Delcy Rodríguez is attempting to maintain political stability in Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear that he is willing to engage with the Rodríguez administration only if U.S. control over the country’s major oil fields is guaranteed. Despite these pressures, Rodríguez has released several hundred political prisoners and opened opportunities for private investment in the nationalised energy sector.

On the same day, another march in Caracas drew university students and relatives of political prisoners, demanding the immediate enactment of a general amnesty law, which has yet to be tabled in parliament. Maduro’s absence has left the country’s politics fraught with public demonstrations and uncertainty.

Venezuela: Key Political Developments (February 2026)

The protests underscore the deep polarisation within Venezuela and the escalating tension between domestic sovereignty and foreign intervention. Public sentiment remains volatile, with mass mobilisations signalling widespread opposition to the ongoing detention of the nation’s elected leaders.