The Venezuelan President and his wife remain in detention in New York, following a U.S. kidnapping operation on January 3, that left more than 100 dead and dozens wounded.

Venezuela reiterated demands On March 3 for the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, the First Combatant Cilia Flores, two months after their illegal kidnapping by the United States on January 3, 2026, which left over 100 people dead.

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The Venezuelan President and his wife remain detained in New York, following an imperialist operation carried out by the United States. This operation resulted in the tragic loss of over 100 lives and left dozens injured, including members of the presidential security detail.

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In a statement, General in Chief and Popular Minister for Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez asserted that “the justice, humanity, and conscience of the Venezuelan people” demand the release of the President and the First Combatant. The text underscored that the profound wounds inflicted by the January 3 attack can only begin to heal with their immediate return and the cessation of all unilateral coercive measures. This stance highlights the national sentiment for sovereignty and justice in the face of external pressures.

Text reads: “Justice, humanity, the conscience of the people of Venezuela and their FANB demand the release of President Nicolas Maduro Moros and the First Combatant Dr. Cilia Flores. Two months have passed since the attack on the heart of our sovereignty that January 3, and despite the fact that Venezuela has opened a new stage of struggle marked by diplomacy with the U.S. where paths for cooperation and peace are being opened within the framework of a positive sum game, the wounds can be healed only with the release of our constitutional President and his wife, as well as the lifting of all sanctions that mercilessly oppress our people. Venezuela deserves to start a path of prosperity and happiness, in the midst of democratic processes and national reconciliation that guarantee the peace and stability of the homeland…”

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB, in Spanish), for its part, firmly ratified its institutional support for the nation’s leadership and reiterated its unwavering commitment to internal stability and the defense of Venezuelan territorial integrity.

Since January 3, the Executive Power has been led by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who has publicly affirmed the opening of a “new stage of diplomacy of peace” with Washington, emphasizing that future relations must be based on principles of mutual respect and cordiality.

Venezuelan authorities consistently classify the sanctions imposed by Washington as illegal and hold them directly responsible for the profound damage inflicted upon the national economy and the overall social well-being of its citizens. Furthermore, they adamantly reject all accusations linked to alleged drug trafficking crimes, arguing that U.S. authorities have failed to present conclusive evidence to substantiate these claims.

The case has provoked significant reactions across various national and international political sectors. There have been numerous calls for the immediate release of the Venezuelan President and widespread questioning regarding the legality and legitimacy of the operation that led to his kidnapping. These responses underscore the international concern surrounding the incident and its potential implications for international law.

This March 3, mobilizations organized by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV, in Spanish) are taking place nationwide, demonstrating popular support for the constitutional President of Venezuela.

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