Venezuela demands immediate release of Maduro from US custody
Al Jazeera
February 23, 2026
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Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has strongly condemned the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States, calling it a "political operation" disguised as a legal action. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Gil demanded Maduro's immediate release, alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who is also being held in New York since their January 3 abduction on drug trafficking and conspiracy charges. The minister described the US operation as part of a "systematic campaign" that resulted in over 100 deaths, while emphasizing that Venezuela remains committed to internal reconciliation despite ongoing challenges.
Since Maduro's capture, relative calm has been maintained in Venezuela under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has shifted from initial defiance to a more conciliatory tone toward the US. However, Gil has remained critical, accusing the US of conducting a decade-long offensive against Venezuela through sanctions and a blockade. He stressed that these actions have severely impacted the country's economic and humanitarian situation, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently highlighting Venezuela's fragile state, including triple-digit inflation and currency depreciation.
In response to these challenges, Venezuela has introduced a new Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence, which offers赦宥 to hundreds of political prisoners. This law reflects the government's efforts to promote internal reconciliation and address decades of political unrest. However, Gil also cautioned against the misuse of human rights as a tool for political conflict, urging the UN to remain impartial and cease punitive measures against Venezuela.
While acknowledging the severity of the situation, Gil maintained that Venezuela will resolve its issues domestically, citing recent amnesties and efforts toward political coexistence. The US's role in the abduction and ongoing sanctions have further strained relations, with even some easing of energy sector sanctions proving insufficient to alter the tense dynamic between the two nations.
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/23/2026