The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have appeared for the first time before a court in the United States of America. The Venezuelan leader is accused of narco-terrorism, but pleads not guilty, reports IPN.
Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, aged 92, ordered that the leader from Caracas remain in custody in New York, to be repeatedly heard on March 17.
In front of the court, Nicolás Maduro declared that he is innocent and that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela. He mentioned that he saw the indictment, but that he did not read it in its entirety and discussed parts of its content with his lawyer.
As a defendant, the head of the Venezuelan state enjoys the same rights as any person tried in the American judicial system, including the right to a jury trial.
The defendant’s lawyers have the opportunity to challenge the legality of the arrest, invoking Maduro’s presidential immunity. However, the American authorities do not recognize him as the legitimate president of Venezuela, especially after the contested re-election of 2024.
During the trial, in front of the New York court, protests took place both against and in favor of the US intervention in Venezuela. The new interim president of this country, Delcy Rodríguez, asked Washington for the return of Nicolás Maduro, who constantly denied involvement in drug trafficking and called for the resumption of respectful relations with the US.
