Above photo: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, escorted by DEA agents upon their arrival in New York. XNY/Star Max via Getty Images.
‘I am President of Venezuela, and I Consider Myself a Prisoner of War.’
On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro made his first public statements before a New York court following his abduction by US military special forces in an attack carried out on Venezuelan territory two days prior. President Maduro declared himself a “prisoner of war” and categorically rejected the charges against him, reaffirming his status as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
“I am the president of Venezuela, and I consider myself a prisoner of war. I was kidnapped in my home in Caracas,” the Venezuelan president declared before the judge, describing the circumstances of his detention as a military action that violates his presidential legitimacy and his country’s sovereignty. The statement establishes the legal framework that will be used to interpret the situation: not as a criminal defendant, but as a head of state kidnapped amid an international conflict.
Venezuela’s first lady, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty to the charges against her and requested a consular visit for herself and President Maduro.
During his court appearance, President Maduro was emphatic in repudiating the accusations made by the US justice system. “I am innocent, not guilty. I am a decent man, and I am still president of my country,” he said, speaking through an interpreter, before Judge Alvin Hellerstein. The president mentioned that he had seen the indictment but had not read it, and that he had discussed it partially with his lawyer. President Maduro’s lawyer is Barry Pollack, an experienced litigator who defended WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Cilia Flores injuries
Pollack described President Maduro’s arrest as a “military abduction.” The lawyer told the press that he is not seeking bail at this time, “but could do so later.”
On the other hand, Mark Donnelly, Flores’ lawyer, reported that the president’s wife “suffered significant injuries” during the kidnapping, including severe bruising on her ribs. He requested that she be provided with X-rays and a physical evaluation to rule out fractures.
During the hearing, which lasted about half an hour, Judge Hellerstein ruled that President Maduro must appear in court for another hearing on March 17. Until then, he will remain in custody. Analysts claim this is a US maneuver allow time to fabricate his case, as there is practically no evidence against the Venezuelan president on any of the charges.
The accusations
Maduro and Flores faced their first hearing before the US justice system after being abducted in Caracas on Saturday. US imperialism accuses the president of narcoterrorist conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess these weapons in support of criminal activities. In short, he is accused of leading the Cartel de los Soles, an organization that most drug trafficking experts claim does not exist.
Finally, the president and first lady of Venezuela face charges of collaborating with criminal organizations classified as “terrorist” in the US, including Mexican cartels. These and the other charges carry penalties ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment.
