The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, declared in his first appearance before the Southern District Court of New York, where he is being tried for alleged crimes of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and other charges: "I am the president of Venezuela, and I consider myself a prisoner of war. They captured me in my home in Caracas."
The military operation that led to the apprehension of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is considered by international experts to be an illegal detention, in violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
This is a true kidnapping of a sitting head of state, which sets a dangerous precedent in the international arena by violating the immunity of a head of state.
"I am not guilty, I am a decent man and I remain the President of my country," Maduro told Judge Alvin Hellerstein, rejecting the charges against him. The president's wife, Cilia Flores, did the same, pleading not guilty before the judge.
The U.S. government accuses the president of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and other devices, and conspiracy to possess these weapons in support of criminal activities.
Finally, in the height of fallacy, they accuse them of collaborating with criminal organizations, classified as terrorists by Washington, and of leading the alleged Cartel of the Suns, a narrative created to incriminate them and justify the aggression against Venezuela.
Following the kidnapping of the Venezuelan leader and his imprisonment in the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, along with his wife, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said that Maduro and Flores "will soon face the wrath of U.S. justice on U.S. soil and in U.S. courts."
The threat is inappropriate for such a high-ranking justice official in a nation, much less against a detainee in circumstances of absolute illegality, through a military operation not authorized by the country's Congress. Furthermore, the attribution by the justice system of actions that correspond to the legislative
system is a serious violation of the Constitution and laws of that country.
According to Maduro's defense attorney, the experienced litigator Barry Pollack, best known as the lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the Bolivarian leader's detention is a military kidnapping.
He also told the press that, although he is not seeking release on bail at this time, he does not rule out the possibility of doing so later.
The judge in the case ruled that Maduro's next court appearance will be on March 17 for a new hearing. Until then, he must remain in custody. (Raúl Antonio Capote)
"AMERICA DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU!"
Hours before this judicial "setup," protests in the northern nation intensified, with demands—shared worldwide—for the release of the Venezuelan president and first lady, condemning the interventionist actions of the U.S. government.
Amidst this turmoil, near the Federal Court headquarters, the outrage was reflected in loud demands to stop this abuse against a sovereign nation and its constitutionally elected president.
"America is not yours!" and "No more coups!" could be heard. The protesters also denounced the legal charade that serves as an excuse to intervene in Venezuela, destabilize it, and seize its resources.
