Shotlist Caracas, Venezuela - Jan 8, 2026 1. Photo of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores; protesters 2. Various of protesters holding banners, chanting slogans 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Sandra Oblitas, president, Bolivarian University of Venezuela: "We are primarily protesting in defense of sovereignty. The sovereignty of our motherland was violated and trampled upon in the early morning of Jan 3. And undoubtedly, we also demand the immediate return of our President Maduro and National Assembly member Cilia Flores." 4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Shirley Rincon, protester: "I don't know what other reasons they might fabricate to detain the president and his wife there, but we are sending strength and determination to our president and his wife from here." 5. Protesters holding national flags of Venezuela Storyline Massive protests continue across Venezuela, and tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Caracas on Thursday, condemning the United States' violation of their national sovereignty and demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. U.S. military forces carried out a series of attacks and bombings in Caracas and other parts of Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3 and forcibly taken Maduro and his wife away, putting them in custody in New York of the U.S. Venezuelans have been demonstrating to protest against the U.S. infringement upon their sovereignty and to express resolute support for Maduro since the U.S. kidnapped their president, killing dozens of Venezuelans and damaging telecommunications, health, and residential infrastructure of the country. Thursday's gathering was mostly attended by young people. They chanted slogans with many holding signs reading "Free the President of Venezuela." "We are primarily protesting in defense of sovereignty. The sovereignty of our motherland was violated and trampled upon in the early morning of Jan 3. And undoubtedly, we also demand the immediate return of our President Maduro and National Assembly member Cilia Flores," said Sandra Oblitas, president of Bolivarian University of Venezuela. "I don't know what other reasons they might fabricate to detain the president and his wife there, but we are sending strength and determination to our president and his wife from here," said Shirley Rincon, a protester. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]