Federal prosecutors in the United States have expanded their indictment against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, adding charges of conspiracy to commit torture. The revised legal filing, released on Thursday, alleges that the couple participated in a scheme involving human rights violations intended to maintain their grip on power.
This addition supplements the existing accusations of drug trafficking and illegal firearms use for which Maduro and Flores were previously charged. Both defendants have consistently denied these prior allegations, with Maduro characterizing his capture as kidnapping and labeling himself a prisoner of war.
According to the indictment, Maduro authorized a system of repression that included arbitrary detention and torture against political opponents and US citizens. The specific abuses detailed range from beatings and asphyxiation to electric shocks. Human rights organizations have long accused Venezuelan officials of such practices, marking this as the first instance where Maduro faces direct legal accountability in a US court for these claims.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings continue for the 69-year-old Cilia Flores. Her legal team is requesting her release from custody in Manhattan, citing severe health issues that include dizziness, shortness of breath, and a reported 25-pound weight loss. Attorneys also allege she suffered a minor heart attack in July. They have proposed that she be placed under house arrest at a New York residence with 24-hour security monitoring.
Prosecutors have opposed the motion, arguing that Flores presents an extreme flight risk and a danger to the public. They noted that she has received adequate medical treatment while in federal detention.
Maduro, 63, and Flores are currently held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn while awaiting trial scheduled for June 2027. Their apprehension occurred during a raid on their Caracas home on January 3, an operation US President Donald Trump described as a “surgical law enforcement operation.” The incident has drawn criticism from some quarters regarding its compliance with international law.
In a separate development regarding economic interests, Trump announced in August that the US had secured an agreement to control portions of Venezuela’s extensive oil reserves, a move that Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez described as historic.
Leave a Reply