Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York court on Thursday, where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, purportedly rejected newly unsealed torture charges brought against them by US authorities. According to the indictment, the couple allegedly led a state-sponsored repression campaign that tortured scores of victims, including three Americans, during his presidency from 2013 to 2026 as part of an elaborate scheme to hold onto power.

During the contentious court appearance, Maduro was combative when asked to enter a plea, condemning the allegations of torture as false accusations and fabricated testimony. The situation prompted Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to interject and declare that a plea of not guilty would be entered on behalf of Mr. Maduro. Meanwhile, Ms. Flores told the judge through a Spanish interpreter that she maintains her complete innocence.

The high-profile court date marks the latest development for the pair, who remain in US custody in New York City eight months after being seized from their Caracas home by the US military during a nighttime raid. These severe torture charges have now been officially added to the prior drug-trafficking counts they faced. According to a scheduling order approved by the judge, the joint trial for Maduro and Flores is currently slated to begin on June 14, 2027.

Prosecutors allege that security forces systematically tortured prisoners using electric shocks, beatings, and asphyxiation at Maduro's direct behest. The indictment further claims that Maduro personally recommended torture methods and threatened the child of a prisoner, while Flores is accused of helping design the repressive system. Legal analysts note that the prosecution of foreign officials by the US regime remains an exceedingly rare and legally contentious mechanism under international law.

Source: www.dw.com