Families of Venezuela's political prisoners march on Miraflores, reject Flores house-arrest bid

Relatives of political prisoners marched through Caracas on Friday near Venezuela's presidential palace, pressing for the release of their detained family members and voicing opposition to a request by former first lady Cilia Flores to await trial under house arrest in the United States.

Carrying photographs of detainees, the protesters assembled on steps painted with the eyes of the late President Hugo Chávez. They held up letters spelling out "Free them all now," while one sign read: "Cilia asks for humanity; political prisoners were denied it."

Flores' lawyers asked a U.S. judge on Wednesday to let her await trial on drug trafficking charges in home confinement, citing a heart condition they said had worsened in jail. They proposed round-the-clock armed surveillance and restrictions on visitors. Flores and her husband, former President Nicolás Maduro, have pleaded not guilty.

Andreina Baduel, a relative of a prisoner, said the families intended to submit a document at Miraflores Palace demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. She accused the authorities of torturing detainees and subjecting them to cruel treatment, and challenged the acting president's appeals for reconciliation and peace.

"The acting president has a lot of answers to give the victims, because while she talks about reconciliation and peace, in the prisons political prisoners are being tortured and subjected to cruel treatment—and we will not allow that," Baduel said. "Our demand is clear: the full and immediate release of all political prisoners."

Another protester, Vivian Mora Chang, 47, urged U.S. officials to reject house arrest for Flores and to investigate alleged crimes against humanity, arguing that political negotiations should not shield those responsible.

"Conduct a genuine investigation, make the findings public, and take action—so that no one else is shielded by political negotiations," she said, addressing U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. She added that many of those held have been detained for more than 2,000 days.

A man speaking through a megaphone while holding a Venezuelan flag led chants of "Not one, not two - all of them." Others knelt to rub a banner spread on the ground as the demonstration continued.