Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife post a defiant message from a Brooklyn jail, thanking supporters and declaring themselves steadfast after nearly three months in US custody.
CARACAS: Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have broken their silence from a US prison. In their first social media post since being captured in January, the couple declared they feel “steadfast” and “serene”.
The message was shared on Maduro’s X account, though it was unclear who posted it on their behalf. The pair said they had received communications and prayers from supporters, which they claimed “fills our souls and strengthens us spiritually”.
A source close to the Venezuelan government told AFP that Maduro reads the Bible in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. He is reportedly referred to as “president” by some fellow detainees at the federal prison, which is known for unsanitary conditions.
The source added Maduro is only allowed 15-minute phone calls with family and lawyers. His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, has said publicly that his father is well, calm, and even exercising in prison.
Maduro had not spoken since being arraigned in New York on January 5. He has declared himself a “prisoner of war” and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy.
During a court hearing on Thursday, a judge rejected a defence motion concerning the couple’s apparent inability to afford their legal bills without Venezuelan government aid. Neither Maduro nor his wife spoke during the appearance.
The January US military operation deposed Maduro, who had led Venezuela since 2013. It forced the oil-rich nation to largely bend to US President Donald Trump’s will.
Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former vice president, is now leading the country. She is grappling with an economy in shambles despite Venezuela holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
Since taking power, Rodriguez has enacted a historic amnesty law to free political prisoners jailed under Maduro. She has also reformed oil and mining regulations in line with US demands for access to Venezuela’s natural resources.
This month, the US State Department said it was restoring diplomatic ties with Venezuela. The move is seen as a sign of thawing relations between the two nations following Maduro’s ouster.