Venezuelan protesters deliver letter directly to presidency

Family members of political prisoners in Venezuela staged a protest Friday through downtown Caracas, delivering a letter directly to the presidential palace in a rare move for dissidents in the South American country.

Historically, the ruling Chavismo party blocked protests in the center of the capital, especially near the presidency's headquarters.

But around 100 demonstrators succeeded at marching to the Miraflores palace to demand interim president Delcy Rodriguez -- in power since Nicolas Maduro was deposed during a US military raid in January -- release additional prisoners.

"Delcy, if you're going to negotiate, start by freeing them!" shouted the protesters.

The group was able to make it to a police barricade near the palace before being stopped by authorities.

Two representatives were later received by a delegation from the presidential palace to accept the letter.

Rodriguez herself was not present for the protest, as she was on an official visit to nearby Suriname.

Margareth Baduel, whose brother is serving a 30-year sentence on treason and terrorism charges, said the group intended to "deliver a document to the interim president, primarily because she has made announcements of (political prisoner) releases that have not been carried out."

Her father Raul Isaias Baduel, a defense minister under Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez, died in prison in 2021.

After talks between the ruling party and opposition figures last month, the Venezuelan presidency announced the release of 131 political prisoners, though NGOs were only able to confirm around 80 releases and estimate over 300 remain detained.

Friday's protest came just days before the second round of talks between the interim government and opposition figures over the post-Maduro transition.