The son of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his father is “doing well” in the United States, where he was imprisoned and is facing trial for drug trafficking, according to a video posted by a leader of his party.

“The lawyers have told us he is strong. He said not to be sad, that 'we are well, we are fighters,'” said Nicolas Maduro Guerra, known as “Nicolasito,” quoting his father.

“They didn't defeat him, he is strong,” said Maduro Guerra, a pro-government deputy.

Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, captured a week ago by US forces in Caracas, are in a prison in New York, awaiting trial for drug trafficking and other crimes.

Chavistas march for Maduro's return

Meanwhile, hundreds of Chavistas mobilized this Saturday in different areas of Caracas and in several regions of Venezuela to demand the United States release and return the former leftist leader.

Chavistas marched in sectors near Fort Tiuna, Venezuela's main military complex—where there were attacks—in the south of the capital, where local authorities called for continued street protests and support for the interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, sworn in last Monday by Parliament following a Supreme Court order.

The mayor of the Libertador municipality of Caracas, Admiral Carmen Melendez, called for “strategic” action to “preserve the lives” of Maduro and Flores, so that they can return to the “homeland as soon as possible.”

US asks citizens to leave Venezuela

On Friday, the Rodriguez government announced the start of an “exploratory diplomatic process” with the United States, aimed at “reestablishing diplomatic missions,” and confirmed the arrival of a delegation of State Department officials to the country, while also reporting that Caracas will send a delegation to Washington.

Meanwhile, The US State Department on Saturday urged its citizens in Venezuela to leave the country “immediately” because the security situation is “unstable.” “There are reports of armed militia groups, known as collectives,setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of US citizenship or support for the United States,” the State Department said in a security alert.