On the 12th (local time), citizens participating in a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, are demanding the release of political prisoners. [EPA Yonhap News]

On the 12th (local time), thousands of Venezuelans held large-scale protests in major cities, including the capital Caracas, demanding the full release of all political prisoners and the guarantee of complete freedom.

This gathering was the first large-scale anti-government rally held since the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro.

This scene was unimaginable during President Maduro's administration, which suppressed dissenting opinions and practiced a politics of fear.

Protesters chanted slogans such as "We are not afraid" and "Release everyone, not just one or two."

The rally, led by student groups, was held just before the Congress was set to discuss a comprehensive amnesty law for political prisoners.

The amnesty law proposes to grant immunity from punishment to all political prisoners arrested during Maduro's 27-year rule. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the scope and 대상 of its application.

Students held a large banner that read "Amnesty Now" and demanded the release of political prisoners while waving Venezuelan flags.

Danalys Anza (26), a student protester interviewed at the Central University of Venezuela, told AFP, "We spent a lot of time in silence underground, enduring all the oppression Venezuela has experienced. But today, we have come together to stand up and voice our demands for our homeland."

Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who is in exile, posted a video of the protesters on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Venezuela will be free! Long live our students!"

Counter-protests in support of the current government were also held in other parts of Caracas.

Thousands of participants expressed their support for the Rodriguez government, stating that President Trump allowed the continuation of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who is Maduro's successor.

Long live freedom. Participants in a pro-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, on the 12th (local time). [Reuters Yonhap News]

The fact that the rally coincided with the visit of U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Rice to Venezuela also drew attention.

Secretary Rice is the highest-ranking official from the Trump administration to visit Venezuela since Maduro's ouster.

He, a former executive of an energy company, assessed the current situation in Venezuela positively, but added, "There are still political prisoners in jail, and numerous problems remain."

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Venezuela's state-owned oil company (PDVSA) is discussing plans to expand development areas of oil fields near existing projects with its joint venture partners, including Chevron from the United States, Repsol from Spain, and Morell & Fromm from France.

Last month, the Venezuelan Congress passed an amendment to the oil law that expands operational, export, and revenue management autonomy for foreign oil companies. This law stipulates that PDVSA and its partners must renegotiate existing joint venture terms within six months.

The proposed areas are mostly adjacent to fields in which they have participated, and PDVSA plans to make final allocations after comparing the terms received from each company, Reuters reported. Expansion of oil fields is expected to lead to increased oil and gas production.