A claim has emerged that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were arrested and transported by a U.S. military operation, sent a message saying they are "not yielding to U.S. authorities and are doing well in good health."
According to the pro-Maduro outlet El Universal on the 11th (local time), Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Maduro's son and a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly, said at a United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) event the previous day that "my father is a fighter, and it was reaffirmed that the United States could not make him yield by any means."
Guerra added, "He is healthy and standing firm," and "he urged us to hold our heads high and move forward as an invincible people." However, Guerra did not separately disclose how he received the message or what the full text of the message said.
The account is being analyzed as a political strategy to strengthen supporters' fighting spirit within the camp.
A protest calling for the immediate release of the presidential couple was held in the capital, Caracas, the previous day, but it was reported to be far smaller than protests typically organized by the Maduro camp.
Diosdado Cabello, the justice minister regarded as a key power broker in the government alongside Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López were also absent from public view.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs objected to the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela issuing a "leave immediately" advisory for its citizens after the pro-Maduro armed militia "colectivos" set up checkpoints across roads and imposed sanctions on U.S. supporters.
Foreign Minister Yván Gil said in a statement that "the U.S. alert is based on false information," adding, "we are currently in a state of absolute calm, peace and institutional stability."