Maduro addressed the Venezuelan people from prison for the first time

Former President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores addressed the people of their country for the first time since being taken into custody.

The couple's statement was published on Maduro's page on the social network X.

"Your letters and your prayers have reached us. Every word of love, every gesture of care, every expression of support fills our soul and strengthens us spiritually," the address reads.

They called on their compatriots to work toward maintaining peace in the country, to strengthen national unity, and to strive for reconciliation, forgiveness, and unification.

"Let no one stray from the path of dialogue, coexistence, and respect, because this is the path of the homeland, this is the path of good," the statement says.

It should be recalled that American leader Donald Trump announced on January 3 that the United States had successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela. He noted that the president of the Bolivarian Republic, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores had been captured and removed from the country's territory.

Two days later, on January 5, the Venezuelan leader and his wife appeared before a New York court for the filing of charges. In court, he declared his innocence and added that he is still the president of his country. The American court agreed to arrange visits by Venezuelan consular officials.

The second hearing in the case of Maduro and his wife took place on March 26, 2026, in the federal court of New York, presided over by Judge Alvin Hellerstein.