STORY: Students went back to school on Monday (January 12) in Caracas to apparent normality, as the government announced it had already released 116 prisoners as a unilateral peaceful gesture to ease tensions after the U.S. military attack to oust President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

Residents interviewed by Reuters described the capital city's daily activity as tranquil and peaceful, with young students queuing outside schools to return to work after the Christmas break.

The prison releases come after a week of political turmoil in Caracas following the capture of Maduro by the United States, and his appearance in a New York court on drug trafficking charges.

The Venezuelan government's number of prisoners released has been questioned by human rights organizations, including the Venezuelan Foro Penal group

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Children return to school in Caracas after Maduro's ousting

VIDEO SHOWS: STUDENTS QUEUING TO ENTER CLASSROOM / PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BUSY ROAD / PEOPLE IN STREET / SOUNDBITES FROM RESIDENTS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW

SHOWS: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK

2. POLICE OUTSIDE SCHOOL

3. POLICE AND STUDENTS OUTSIDE SCHOOL

4. STUDENTS IN LINE TO ENTER SCHOOL

5. BACKPACKS OF STUDENTS

6. STUDENTS CLAPPING

7. STUDENTS WALKING

8. STUDENTS WALKING IN CORRIDOR

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, STELLA DIAZ, SAYING:

"Until now, it's apparently normal. We hope there aren't problems for the children so that children can continue classes as usual. We're expecting everything to get better without problems and all to rest in peace and calm, firstly for the sake of the children's health and for us as Venezuelans."

10. STUDENTS WALKING TO SCHOOL

11. STUDENTS

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND VEHICLES IN STREET

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COMPANY MANAGER, JOSE SOSA, SAYING:

“So far, we're fine. We must exercise control altogether to keep moving forward and working above all. And, well, we must be sympathetic. We as Venezuelans must be sympathetic because we can't keep being like, yes, no, here, there—we must move forward. This is a nice country. Look at the radiant sun that's rising today, starting the week, and we must move forward."

14. PEOPLE CROSSING STREET

15. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING TO CROSS STREET

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PUBLIC WORKER, NIEVES ROJAS, SAYING:

"There's peace, there's tranquillity for Venezuelans. We're a peaceful people. We're descendants of liberators and we're also descendants of Indigenous resistance. So, even if you see us tranquil and working in peace, it's because we can't let the country collapse."

17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CROSSING STREET

18. VEHICLES ON ROAD

19. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON SIDEWALK