Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has affirmed that he is “well and steadfast”—alongside his wife, Cilia Flores—in a message released this Saturday following his court appearance in New York, in which he also expressed gratitude for the expressions of support received from the public.
“Your communications, your messages, your emails, your letters, and your prayers have reached us. Every word of love, every gesture of affection, every expression of support fills our souls and strengthens us spiritually. We are well, steadfast, serene, and in constant prayer,” reads the statement released via social media.
In his message, the president also issued a call to reinforce the internal stability of the Caribbean nation and to keep channels for political understanding open.
“Today, more than ever, we call for the continued consolidation of the country’s peace, national unity, reconciliation, forgiveness, and reunion among all citizens. Let no one stray from the path of dialogue, coexistence, and respect, for that is the path of the homeland; that is the path of righteousness,” he noted.
This statement comes to light following his latest appearance before a federal court in New York—within the framework of the legal proceedings initiated against him—where Judge Alvin Hellerstein declined to dismiss the case.
The magistrate raised questions regarding certain aspects linked to the sanctions imposed by the United States—particularly concerning access to funds to cover the Venezuelan president’s legal defense—though he ultimately ruled that the proceedings should move forward.
In light of this, last February, Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, warned of the possibility that he might withdraw from the Venezuelan president’s defense if the United States did not permit the Venezuelan government to pay his legal fees. Specifically, Pollack stated that the Department of the Treasury had granted—but subsequently revoked—a license that would have allowed Caracas to pay him. However, both Maduro and his wife are on the list of sanctioned individuals; consequently, their legal team must obtain the necessary permits to avoid violating said restrictions. The attorney has asserted that this “violates Maduro’s constitutional right to defend himself.”
Maduro was captured alongside Cilia Flores on January 3 during a U.S. military raid that left more than a hundred people dead, following which the president and the First Lady were transferred to and incarcerated in New York. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them in the case, which relate to alleged drug trafficking activities and conspiracy to import cocaine into the country.
