Cuba insists on demanding the end of the detention of Maduro and his wife by the United States

Havana.- The Cuban government insisted this Sunday on demanding from Washington the end of the "brutal kidnapping" of the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, which it called "illegal" and a "judicial and media farce".

"It's been eight days since the brutal kidnapping of the legitimate President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and his wife, Cilia Flores," wrote Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on social media. In turn, he demanded an end to "this illegal detention" of Maduro and Flores, with a call to "respect their immunity", as well as to "stop the judicial and media farce into which this trial has been turned and ensure their life and care". Rodríguez also asked the international community to "join this just claim, to preserve International Law, and the life, justice and rights" of the president and his wife.

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On January 3rd, Maduro and Flores were captured in Caracas by US forces amid an attack on Caracas and three other neighboring states. After his transfer to the United States, both were presented before the court of the Southern District of New York and during his first appearance, Maduro declared himself as "an innocent man" of the drug trafficking charges with which he is accused by the Administration of President Donald Trump. The formal accusation charges Maduro with the crimes of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, among other charges. For her part, Flores, who is accused of allegedly participating in the conspiracy to traffic cocaine, also pleaded "not guilty". Cuba has described the military attack that included the detention of Maduro Flores as "unacceptable and barbaric" and has insisted on reiterating its "support and solidarity with the Venezuelan people and government" as well as demanding the release of both. Havana and Caracas have been close allies politically and economically, and since the year 2000 they have maintained an agreement whereby the island has received Venezuelan crude oil in exchange for the provision of professional services, mainly doctors, teachers and also military personnel.