- The couple also praised Venezuelans for staying united through hardship and for showing solidarity
- Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, has publicly stated that his father remains in good health
- They also thanked supporters, saying they had received letters, emails, and messages of encouragement
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were seized by U.S. forces during a nighttime operation in January, said on Saturday that they remain calm and resolute in their first message shared from detention.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the couple has spent nearly three months in a Brooklyn federal jail after being taken from their residence in Caracas. Reports indicate they have had little to no access to news or the internet during that time.
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In a statement posted on Maduro’s X account, though it was not clear who published it, they expressed confidence and faith.
“We are doing well, strong, peaceful, and devoted to prayer,” the message read.
They also thanked supporters, saying they had received letters, emails, and messages of encouragement, adding that such gestures have uplifted them and strengthened their spirit.
A source familiar with the situation said Maduro spends time reading the Bible and is still addressed as “president” by some inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility known for difficult conditions.
His communication is limited to short phone calls, no more than 15 minutes, with family members and legal representatives, the source added.
Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, has publicly stated that his father remains in good health, composed, and even keeps up with exercise while in custody.
Since his court appearance in early January, Maduro, who has described himself as a “prisoner of war”, had not made any public remarks until now.
In their latest message, the couple also praised Venezuelans for staying united through hardship and for showing solidarity both within the country and abroad.
During a recent court hearing, a judge dismissed a request from their defense team concerning financial difficulties in covering legal fees. Maduro and Flores did not speak during the proceedings.
Both have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy related to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses.
Their arrest in January effectively removed Maduro from power after more than a decade in leadership, reshaping Venezuela’s political landscape.
Following his removal, former vice president Delcy Rodríguez assumed control of the country and has since introduced reforms, including the release of political prisoners and changes to oil and mining policies.
In a sign of shifting relations, the U.S. State Department recently indicated that diplomatic ties with Venezuela are being restored.
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