Maduro says he and wife ‘well, firm’ in first message since capture

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, issued their first public statement from a Brooklyn detention center on Saturday, following their second pre-trial hearing in a Manhattan federal court. In a message shared on social media, the couple described themselves as “well, firm and calm,” and urged a continuation of national dialogue and reconciliation in Venezuela. This marks their first direct communication since they were captured in Caracas by U.S. military forces during “Operation Absolute Resolve” on January 3 and transported to the United States.

The statement follows a Thursday court appearance where a federal judge denied Maduro’s motion to dismiss the case. Maduro, who pleaded not guilty to narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges during his initial arraignment on January 5, continues to maintain that he was “kidnapped” and remains the constitutional president of Venezuela. While the court explores whether sanctioned Venezuelan funds can be used to cover the couple’s mounting legal fees, both Maduro and Flores remain in custody as they await further proceedings in a case that has drawn significant international scrutiny and condemnation.

Credit : CGTN