Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro says he is ‘doing well’ in US custody as his interim government begins releasing political prisoners.
CARACAS: Venezuelans awaited further prisoner releases on Sunday as ousted president Nicolas Maduro defiantly claimed he was “doing well” from his US jail cell.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez’s government began freeing prisoners jailed under Maduro last Thursday in a gesture of openness.
The government promised a “large” number of releases, a move the Trump administration took credit for, but rights groups say only about 20 have been freed so far.
Rodriguez, who was Maduro’s vice president, said Venezuela would take “the diplomatic route” with Washington.
US President Donald Trump claimed the United States was “in charge” of the South American country.
“Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
“I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.”
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured in a dramatic January 3 raid involving overnight air strikes across Caracas.
They were taken to New York to stand trial on drug-trafficking and weapons charges.
A detained police officer accused of “treason” died in state custody on Saturday, according to the opposition and rights groups.
Primero Justicia, part of the Venezuelan opposition alliance, directly blamed Rodriguez’s regime for the death.
Families held candlelight vigils outside El Rodeo and El Helicoide prisons, holding signs with their relatives’ names.
“I am tired and angry,” said Nebraska Rivas, 57, waiting for her son’s release from El Rodeo.
“But I have faith that they will hand him over to us soon,” she added after sleeping on the pavement for two nights.
Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, released a video stating his father claimed he was “doing well” in New York.
Around 1,000 pro-Maduro protesters rallied in western Caracas, with a few hundred more in the Petare district.
“I’ll march as often as I have to until Nicolas and Cilia come back,” said demonstrator Soledad Rodriguez, 69.
The demonstrations were far smaller than previous pro-Maduro rallies, with top figures from his government notably absent.
The interim president has insisted Venezuela is not “subordinate” to Washington to placate Maduro’s base.
Trump vowed to secure US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves following the capture.
He pressed top oil executives at a White House meeting on Friday to invest, but was met with a cautious reception.
Experts say Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is creaky after years of mismanagement and sanctions.
Washington confirmed US envoys visited Caracas on Friday to discuss reopening their embassy.
Trump also pressured Cuba on Sunday, warning that Venezuelan oil and money flow to Havana would now stop.
He urged Cuba to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel retorted that the island was “ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.”
“Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation,” he said. “No one tells us what to do.”
