The incoming Trump administration wants regime change in Venezuela, where dictator Nicolás Maduro stole his election, jailed a rival and this month even threatened to invade the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Maduro’s inauguration seals an election outcome that opposition politicians and the US government say was stolen.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro announced the detention of three Ukrainians days before his inauguration, calling them "mercenaries" and accusing them of plotting a terrorist attack, Spanish news agency EFE reported on Jan.

As Nicolás Maduro is inaugurated for a controversial third term, Bolton urges the incoming administration to isolate the strongman on the world stage.

The head of a leading Venezuelan human rights group was released from detention Thursday, his NGO said, after nine days in custody following a crackdown on critics of President Nicolas Maduro.

Edmundo González Urrutia is trying to bolster international support before Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro is sworn in Friday.

Yesterday, opposition leader María Corina Machado posted a video on social media saying the moment was not right for his return. Recorded in hiding, she promised: “Edmundo will come to Venezuela to be sworn in as constitutional president of Venezuela at the right time.”

Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio has been extremely critical of the Biden administration's approach to the Venezuelan regime

But Trump has voiced an interest in deporting Venezuelan migrants who have entered the United States illegally, and to do so could possibly require him to cut deals with Maduro. Maduro also has several Americans in his custody that he seems poised to use as a bargaining chip.

CARACAS. Jan 10 (Interfax) - Russian State Duma Chairman has attended the inauguration ceremony of Nicolas Maduro, who has been elected president of Venezuela, in the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas. Volodin is representing Russia on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Venezuelans protesting President Nicolas Maduro's return to power for a highly contested third term this week said they did not want a "Cuban-style dictatorship."