“I AM THE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA AND I AM A PRISONER OF WAR”: MADURO’S RESPONSE THAT REDEFINES THE TRIAL

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With a phrase laden with history and sovereignty, the Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 🇻🇪, Nicolás Maduro Moros, responded to Federal Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein in the Southern District Court of New York 🗽. To the ritual question of identification, his response was not a simple “yes.” It was a high-voltage political declaration:

“I am the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and I am a prisoner of war.” ✊

With those words, spoken with a dignity that transcended the cold language of the court, Maduro shifted the legal framework to a geopolitical one. He did not present himself as a defendant before a court, but as a Head of State kidnapped in an asymmetric conflict.

📌 KEY POINTS OF HIS STATEMENT BEFORE THE JUDGE:

➡️ PLEA OF INNOCENCE:
Both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, formally pleaded NOT GUILTY to all charges (narcoterrorism and conspiracy). A resounding denial that, in its context, amounts to a complete disregard for the legality of the proceedings.

➡️ IDENTIFICATION AS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE:
He didn’t say “Yes, I am Nicolás Maduro.” He identified himself by his position and legitimacy: “I am the President of my country.” An explicit reminder of his constitutional status and the violation of international law that prosecuting a sitting head of state entails.

➡️ DETENTION STATUS: FROM “ACCUSED” TO “PRISONER OF WAR”:
This was the masterstroke. By describing himself as a “prisoner of war” and detailing that he was “kidnapped from my home in Caracas,” Maduro:

1. Discredited the U.S. legal narrative, placing his case within the context of a conflict between states.
2. Symbolically invoked the protections of International Humanitarian Law, which grants special rights to prisoners of war.
3. Denounced the action as an act of force, not justice.

⚖️ IMMEDIATE REACTIONS IN THE COURTROOM:

Judge Hellerstein, maintaining procedural formality, announced that the couple would be granted medical and consular assistance. Meanwhile, defense attorney Barry Pollack indicated that he would not request bail for now, a strategic move suggesting that the defense will not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and will appeal to higher or political bodies.

CONCLUSION: MORE THAN A HEARING, A NARRATIVE BATTLE

Maduro achieved in minutes what his lawyers will take months to accomplish: changing the terms of the debate. While the U.S. insists on a “drug trial,” Venezuela responds that it is a “war trial.”

By declaring himself a prisoner of war, he is not only defending himself; he is also accusing others. And he is turning every court appearance into a stage for global denunciation. The legal battle is long, but the first victory, both symbolic and political, already has a clear winner.