Venezuelans Say Some Freedoms Returned Since Maduro Ouster

More freedom of speech, but system ’still authoritarian, just operating in a different way,’ said one Venezuelan.(Clockwise from top left) Oriana Campos, 24, who is part of a student political opposition group at the Central University of Venezuela, during a “Youth Day” protest on campus in Caracas on Feb. 12, 2026; Jacobo Malkhasian (C) participates the protest; Malkhasian (L) at the protest; Daniel Tirado (L) lines up with fellow protesters in Caracas on April 21, 2017; Tirado casts a ballot, before he was forced to flee the country for his family’s safety. Courtesy of Oriana Campos, Courtesy of Jacobo Malkhasian, Courtesy of Daniel Tirado|April 15, 2026Updated:April 15, 2026Since U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelans have been seeing some rights return to the socialist country, such as freedom of speech, sources told The Epoch Times. This is despite the fact that top leaders from the same oppressive regime remain in power.“Everyone is feeling that we are getting some freedom,” said 21-year-old Jacobo Malkhasian, who lives in the capital city of Caracas. “We’re getting some rights … some possibilities to now have free speech.”