Venezuelan political prisoners' families protest at US embassy

Families of political prisoners in Venezuela have kept an eight‑day vigil in front of the United States embassy in Caracas despite cold, rain and what they describe as intimidation by unmarked vehicles. Their camp, which hosts about 50 people by day and 20 overnight, seeks a meeting with U.S. chargé d’affaires John Barrett to discuss the release of detained relatives. One protester, Jessica Castro, said, “Pese de las amenazas aquí sigo,” after receiving a threatening phone call.

The protest has drawn attention from former detainees abroad. Argentine ex‑gendarme Nahuel Gallo, who spent 448 days in a Venezuelan prison, posted on social media during the 2026 World Cup, urging people not to forget “los presos políticos en Venezuela” while the world celebrates football. He wrote, “Mientras millones festejan, no nos olvidemos de quienes siguen privados de su libertad por pensar diferente.”

Both actions aim to keep the humanitarian situation of the remaining 389 political prisoners in Venezuela in the international spotlight.