Maduro, Wife to Face US Court Over New Torture Charges

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to appear before a United States federal court on Thursday over fresh allegations that they conspired to torture political opponents.

The new charges, filed last week, have expanded the criminal case against Maduro, 63, and Flores, 70, who were captured during a US military operation in Venezuela on January 3 and subsequently taken to New York.

The couple had previously pleaded not guilty to charges involving drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and related offences. Their lawyers have also denied the torture allegations.

According to prosecutors at the Manhattan US Attorney's Office, Maduro allegedly directed Venezuelan officials to torture opposition politicians and military personnel suspected of plotting against his government.

The indictment cites an alleged incident in 2014 in which Maduro reportedly ordered officials to kidnap military personnel to obtain information about suspected dissidents. When some of the detainees refused to cooperate, he allegedly instructed officials to intensify the pressure on them.

Flores was also accused of supporting the plan during a meeting and rejecting an alternative proposal to gather information by infiltrating suspected dissident groups.

However, prosecutors have not accused either Maduro or Flores of personally carrying out acts of torture.

The couple are expected to enter their pleas to the new charges before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.

If convicted on all charges, they could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years in prison. Their trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027.

Maduro ruled Venezuela for 13 years before his capture. His administration maintained tense relations with successive US governments, which imposed sanctions on senior Venezuelan officials and state-owned companies over allegations of human rights abuses, corruption and electoral irregularities.

Maduro repeatedly accused Washington of attempting to remove him from power to gain greater control over Venezuela's vast oil reserves and other natural resources.

The long-running confrontation culminated in the January 3 US military operation that resulted in Maduro and Flores being captured at their residence in Caracas and transported to the United States to face criminal charges.

They have since been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Following Maduro's removal, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, assumed leadership of Venezuela and increased cooperation with the United States.

US President Donald Trump has described Maduro's capture and the subsequent improvement in relations with Venezuela as a major foreign policy achievement ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, in which Republicans are seeking to retain control of Congress.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share