Deposed Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, on Monday pleaded not guilty to narco terrorism charges before a federal court in New York, insisting that he remains the legitimate president of his country.
Maduro, 63, told a judge at the Manhattan court that he was forcibly taken out of Venezuela, describing the action as a kidnapping. According to United States media reports, he declared,
“I’m innocent; I’m not guilty,” while maintaining that his removal from office had no legal basis.
“I’m still the president of my country,” Maduro was also quoted as saying during the court appearance.
His wife, Cilia Flores, who was arraigned alongside him, also entered a not guilty plea to the charges filed by US authorities.
The couple were captured early Saturday in Caracas after a coordinated military operation involving US warplanes and a heavy naval presence.
The operation followed weeks of heightened tension between Washington and Caracas.
Over the weekend, United States President Donald Trump announced that the US was now in control of Venezuela, with plans to manage and revive the country’s struggling oil industry.
The declaration triggered widespread international reactions and sharp criticism from several world leaders.
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that the situation demanded respect for national sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, condemned the development, saying the Americas did not belong to any single power. Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, also criticised the US action, warning that he was prepared to resist any form of external domination, even by force.
Maduro became president in 2013 after the death of former leader, Hugo Chavez. The United States and the European Union have repeatedly accused him of manipulating elections, jailing political opponents, and presiding over widespread corruption.
Venezuela’s future remains uncertain as the country’s 30 million citizens grapple with the fallout of the political crisis. On Sunday, about 2,000 Maduro supporters gathered in Caracas, waving national flags and riding motorcycles, some reportedly armed with rifles.
On Monday, lawmakers loyal to Maduro chanted “Let’s go, Nico!” inside the Venezuelan parliament in a show of support for the ousted leader.
The Trump administration has said it is willing to allow members of Maduro’s inner circle to remain in government if they comply with US directives. Interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former vice president, has indicated a willingness to cooperate after initially resisting the move.
Trump has, however, made it clear that the US will not back opposition candidates previously recognised as winners of elections it described as rigged.
(AFP)
