‘We are standing firm,’ Maduro says in photo posts from detention

Venezuela's former President Nicolas Maduro has posted photos on social media, claiming he remains "standing firm" despite being detained in Brooklyn, New York since January. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in Caracas during a US military operation following drug trafficking and firearms possession charges, which they vehemently deny.

The former leader, who appears thin in the images, wrote on the Telegram messaging service that the photos are a "small gift" to their grandchildren and supporters. He emphasized their "standing firm" with "hearts full of your love." Although the photos were reportedly taken on June 25, following devastating earthquakes in northern Venezuela that claimed over 6,500 lives, their authenticity remains unverified.

Maduro's comments came two days after his successor, interim President Delcy Rodriguez, signed a historic oil agreement with the US, allowing American access to Venezuelan oil fields. Rodriguez is facing intense pressure from the US and has opted for diplomatic solutions to keep Venezuela afloat. While Maduro has no internet access in prison, he is allowed limited telephone communication with his family and lawyers each month.

His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, says his father is in good health and spends his time studying the Bible. His trial in the US is scheduled to commence on June 1, 2027, as announced by a federal court in New York.