- Thousands of Venezuelans protested in Caracas, demanding full freedom and the release of political prisoners.
- Protesters demanded more than legislation, chanting for freedom across the political system.
- The chants signalled calls for structural change, including free elections, returning exiles, and restored civil liberties.
Thousands of Venezuelans joined the street for a demonstration in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, on Thursday to demand the full release of political prisoners and grant Venezuelans full freedom—the first major opposition protest since Maduro’s abduction. The demonstration came as lawmakers were set to debate a landmark amnesty bill granting amnesty to people jailed for participating in political protests.
The amnesty bill covers charges of treason, terrorism, and spreading hate that were used to imprison dissidents. It would not apply to those convicted of drug trafficking, murder, or human rights violations. The bill is also stated to lift measures banning several opposition leaders from running for office, including Maria Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The MPs ultimately voted to postpone the bill’s adoption, despite government statements indicating it would be passed this week.
“We are not afraid”, the demonstrators chanted at the first major opposition rally. The rallies were driven by demands that went beyond the legislation itself, with protesters chanting slogans such as “Who are we? Venezuela! What do we want? Freedom!” and calling for full freedom across the political system. These chants reflected a broader sentiment that the amnesty should not be a symbolic gesture but the beginning of structural change, including free elections, the return of exiles, and the restoration of civil liberties. Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president, organised a counter-demonstration, which attracted thousands of pro-Maduro demonstrators on Venezuela Youth Day.
The numbers surrounding the protests highlight both progress and persistent distrust. According to rights group Foro Penal, at least 431 political prisoners have already been released under the interim leadership, but more than 600 people remain in detention, keeping the issue at the centre of public mobilisation. Around 2,000 protesters gathered at a major university rally, while thousands participated in opposition demonstrations across the capital.
“VENEZUELA WILL BE FREE! Long live our students!” exiled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wrote on X, alongside a video of a Caracas street filled with demonstrators, some of whom waved Venezuelan flags. The unfolding protests, therefore, represent a test of whether Venezuela is entering a genuine transition or merely a rebranded version of the existing political order.
References:
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/12/venezuela-protests-activists-nicolas-maduro-donald-trump-caracas
- https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260212-venezuela-opposition-rally-calls-on-post-maduro-govt-to-grant-full-freedoms
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/12/protesters-march-in-venezuela-as-national-assembly-weighs-amnesty-bill
Anshika Agrawal is a research scholar at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, with a strong interest in current affairs, bilateral and multilateral relations, and public policy. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Aayush Pal 
Mohmmad Rizwan