Accompanied by massive security precautions, Nicolás Maduro was brought before a New York court. There, the kidnapped Venezuelan head of state protested his innocence: he had been “kidnapped” by the USA.
Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by the US, has pleaded not guilty in a New York court. The accused 63-year-old was brought in for an initial hearing in prison uniform. Maduro described himself as a “decent man” and the legitimate president of his country. He was “kidnapped” by the USA from Venezuela, Maduro told Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
Maduro added that he had not yet read the indictment and had not been informed of his rights. “I didn’t know these rights,” he said through an interpreter. “Your honor will now lecture me about it.”
Many supporters in court
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His wife, Cilia Flores, who was also accused, also protested her innocence. The next hearing was scheduled for March 17. Judge Hellerstein said it was his job to ensure a fair trial. US media assume that it could take more than a year before a jury trial takes place. In the coming weeks, the proceedings are likely to initially focus on fundamental legal questions: Maduro’s defenders could challenge the legality of his arrest and transfer to the USA and point to his immunity as head of state.
Shortly before the start of the hearing, which lasted a good 30 minutes, dozens of supporters had gathered on the street in front of the federal court in Manhattan – both of Maduro and of US President Donald Trump, who had chalked up the attack on the South American country and the kidnapping of the president as a coup for himself.
“Conspiracy to drug terrorism”
Maduro and his wife were captured by US special forces in Venezuela on Saturday night and then taken to a detention center in New York. The US justice system accuses the authoritarian head of state of, among other things, “conspiracy to commit drug terrorism” and “conspiracy to import cocaine.”
From the USA’s perspective, Maduro is said to have used the office he gained illegally due to state election fraud to allow thousands of tons of cocaine to be transported to the USA. Maduro took advantage of this for himself and, according to the USA, is said to have joined forces with drug traffickers to do so. He is also charged with unlawful possession of machine guns and explosives and “conspiracy” to do so.
Maduro’s son: “kidnapping”
In addition to Maduro’s wife, his co-defendant is also his son, who is still in Venezuela. He also described his father’s capture as a kidnapping. “If we normalize the kidnapping of heads of state, no country will be safe anymore. Today it is Venezuela, tomorrow it can be any other country that does not submit,” said deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra at the inaugural session of the Venezuelan National Assembly. “Without international law, the law of the strongest will once again apply in the world.”
Experts view the attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law. The trial will also be about whether Maduro should not have special immunity as head of state – and therefore should not have been taken out of the country and charged.
Strong criticism of the US’s actions
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the “method” used by the USA. This is “neither supported nor approved” by France, Macron said at a cabinet meeting.
In addition, Russia and China strongly condemned the US actions at a special session of the UN Security Council. Both countries called for the release of Maduro and his wife.
Venezuela’s UN ambassador denounced a wholesale breach of international law. The UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, the human rights guarantee and the immunity of a sitting head of state had been violated, he told the UN Security Council in New York.
Venezuelan government sets up commission
Meanwhile, the government in Venezuela set up a commission to work for the release of the president, who has been in office since 2013, and his wife. The working group includes, among others, Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez and Foreign Minister Yván Gil. However, observers believe it is unlikely that the US authorities will release Maduro again.
