05.01.2026 09:01
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were kidnapped by the United States, will appear before a judge today at 20:00 Turkish time. The indictment prepared by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has been unsealed, includes four separate charges against Maduro and his family.
The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were kidnapped by the United States, will appear before a judge for the first time today.
A court in New York confirmed that the case of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be heard on January 5 at 12:00 local time, which is 20:00 Turkish time. It was stated that the hearing will be presided over by District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were brought to the United States, are expected to appear before a judge for the first time on Monday at the Manhattan Federal Court.
According to the news, it is expected that the judge will explain the couple's rights in court and ask whether they accept the charges against them. The article stated that it is almost certain that Maduro and his wife will be held in custody without bail until the hearing.
CHARGES AGAINST MADURO
The Washington administration accuses Maduro of "drug-related terrorism" and various organized crime allegations. The indictment announced by the U.S. prosecution includes charges such as conspiracy to traffic drugs, possession of heavy weapons, and "destructive activities." Maduro has previously denied all these charges, stating that the U.S. targeting him is based on political reasons.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On Saturday, around 02:00 local time in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, explosions and sounds of aircraft were heard.
The Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of carrying out attacks on civilian and military facilities in various regions of the country following the explosions.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a large-scale attack was carried out against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and that Maduro and his wife were taken out of the country. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also stated that a criminal complaint had been filed against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the U.S.
The Venezuelan Supreme Court decided that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez would temporarily assume the presidency following the detention of President Nicolas Maduro.