In the wake of the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, 2026, thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas to demand their release. According to Al Jazeera, protesters carried banners and chanted slogans like 'Venezuela needs Nicolás,' highlighting the deep divisions within the country. The Frontier Post reported that the demonstration was organized by the government and included many public sector workers, who expressed a mix of emotions, including confusion, sadness, and anger. The protest stretched for several hundred meters, with participants waving Venezuelan flags and wearing the red colors associated with the Chavista movement, named after Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez.