Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is seen under escort as he arrives for an initial court hearing in New York, where U.S. federal prosecutors have filed multiple charges including alleged links to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, conspiracy, and money laundering.
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons-related charges during his first appearance in a New York court, following his transfer to the United States after a dramatic operation in Caracas.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were brought before the court under heavy security. Both denied all charges. According to US media reports, Maduro told the court through an interpreter that he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president, insisting on his innocence.
Outside the courthouse, protests reflected sharply divided opinions. Demonstrators held placards carrying opposing messages, with some calling for US non-intervention in Venezuela, while others expressed approval of Washington’s actions.
Among those welcoming the court proceedings was Pedro Reyes, a Venezuelan migrant now living in the United States. Speaking near the courthouse, Reyes alleged that he was kidnapped and shot by Venezuelan military officers in 2014 in Táchira, a western Venezuelan state bordering Colombia. His claims could not be independently verified.
Reyes said the incident forced him and his family to flee Venezuela. After living in Argentina, they crossed the US–Mexico border in 2021 and sought asylum. Their case remains pending. While he said Maduro’s detention brought some sense of justice, he warned it would not bring immediate freedom to Venezuela.
“This is only a momentary relief,” Reyes said. “As long as people connected to the current regime remain in power, Venezuela cannot be free. Many families have already paid a heavy price.”
Court proceedings reportedly became tense when a member of the public addressed Maduro directly. The Venezuelan leader responded by describing himself as a “prisoner of war,” according to reporters present in the courtroom.
Images released earlier showed Maduro and Flores being transferred in handcuffs, surrounded by armed officers. Lawyers representing Flores claimed she sustained facial injuries during the operation, an allegation that has drawn attention from rights groups.
This photo shows Nicolás Maduro and his wife
In Caracas, former vice president Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president. She praised Maduro and Flores as national heroes and criticized the US action, describing it as illegitimate foreign aggression.
The case has triggered strong international reactions. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over whether international law had been respected during the operation that led to Maduro’s arrest.
China and Iran called for Maduro’s immediate release, accusing the United States of violating international norms. The White House, meanwhile, reiterated Washington’s stance on maintaining regional security in the Western Hemisphere.
As legal proceedings continue in the United States, Venezuelans remain divided between hopes for accountability and fears that the country’s prolonged political and humanitarian crisis may persist regardless of the court’s final verdict.
No comments: