Former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has sought to reassure supporters that he remains in good spirits despite his detention in the United States, posting photographs that appear to show him inside the Brooklyn facility where he is being held.
Maduro said in a message posted on Telegram on Sunday that he was “standing firm” and sent the photographs as a message to his grandchildren, children and supporters.
“I want you to know that we are standing firm, with our hearts full of your love,” he wrote.
The two photographs show Maduro dressed in a gray tracksuit and making peace signs with both hands. He appears noticeably thinner than he did before his capture by US forces in January.
However, the images could not be independently authenticated by AFP. Camera data indicates they were taken on June 25, a day after two deadly earthquakes reportedly killed more than 6,500 people and caused widespread destruction in northern Venezuela. AFP said attempts to confirm whether the photographs were genuine and officially authorised were unsuccessful.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in Caracas during a US military operation in January. Both are being held in Brooklyn and face US charges relating to drug trafficking and firearms possession, allegations they have denied.
Maduro ended his message with an appeal for resilience, writing that they would remain “strong, calm and confident” and expressing his belief that Venezuela would eventually recover.
His message came amid significant political developments in Venezuela. Two days earlier, his successor, interim President Delcy Rodriguez, announced what she described as a “historic” agreement allowing the United States to operate Venezuelan oil fields.
Rodriguez, who is governing under considerable pressure from Washington, has said she has opted for diplomacy with the United States in an effort to transform Venezuela into an “energy powerhouse.”
Conditions surrounding Maduro’s detention have limited his access to information. He reportedly has no access to newspapers or the internet but is allowed to communicate with family members and lawyers by telephone for about 300 minutes each month, with calls limited to 15 minutes.
A source close to the former leader said Maduro has used his time in detention to study the Bible. His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, has also said his father is in good health.
Maduro and Flores are scheduled to face trial in the United States beginning June 1, 2027, according to a federal court announcement made in late July.
The latest photographs, if authenticated, represent a rare glimpse of the former Venezuelan leader since his detention.
