Venezuela’s Maduro asserts immunity, asks US judge to dismiss charges
The principle that sitting heads of state are immune from prosecution abroad is a longstanding tenet of international law seen as fundamental to diplomacy.
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has requested a US judge to dismiss drug trafficking charges against him, arguing for immunity as the head of a sovereign nation. The charges led to the US military's January 3 raid on Caracas and his capture. Maduro, who has been held in a Brooklyn federal jail since his seizure, has pleaded not guilty and is set to go on trial in June 2027 if his bid to dismiss the case fails.
The principle of state immunity from prosecution in foreign courts is a well-established aspect of international diplomacy. Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued that the US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein lacked jurisdiction, both due to the principle of state immunity and the fact that the alleged acts were part of Maduro's official duties.
The US has not recognized Maduro as Venezuela's president since 2019, and courts typically defer to the US president in such disputes. However, legal experts believe Maduro faces an uphill battle, given the rarity of US criminal cases involving foreign leaders and the lack of precedent supporting his claim.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Venezuela’s Maduro asserts immunity, asks US judge to dismiss charges freemalaysiatoday.com
- Maduro Asks US Court to Dismiss Charges in Drug-Trafficking Case bloomberg.com
