Cilia Flores, wife of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, demanded medical attention this Monday before the Southern District Court of New York, where she attended a hearing in the legal proceedings against her. Her lawyer, Mark E. Donnelly, informed Judge Alvin Hellerstein that the former first lady has “severe bruising on a rib” and that it could be a fracture. “She will need proper care,” Donnelly stated during the hearing. The judge indicated that the matter should be coordinated between the defense and the prosecution, but ordered the prosecutors to ensure that Flores receives the necessary medical attention. Reporters present in the courtroom observed that Flores had bandages on her eyelid and temple. It has not been clarified how the injuries occurred, although her defense maintains that they happened during her capture on Saturday, when she was arrested along with Maduro at his residence in Venezuela by U.S. forces. “Not guilty, completely innocent.” During the hearing, Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. “Not guilty, completely innocent,” she responded in Spanish when Judge Hellerstein asked her how she pleaded. Her lawyer said she was “in good spirits” and aware that she faces “a long road ahead.” “We look forward to reviewing and refuting the government’s evidence,” Donnelly said after the hearing. Flores remains detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, from where she was transferred under armed guard to the federal court in Manhattan. Nicolas Maduro, also detained, appeared alongside her in a brief proceeding that marks the beginning of a protracted legal battle. Serious accusations against her. For many outside Venezuela, Cilia Flores is just “Maduro’s wife.” Inside the country, she is one of the most influential figures in Chavismo. She is a lawyer, was president of the National Assembly, and also attorney general. She has been one of the regime’s main public defenders.While the charges against Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials in this case were known since 2020, his wife's name had not appeared until now. The expanded indictment now names six people, including Nicolas Maduro, Cilia Flores, and Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the regime's key figures. They are accused, among other things, of having allied themselves with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, as well as with criminal cartels, to "send tons of cocaine to the United States." Flores is accused by prosecutors of having actively participated in coordinating meetings and logistics for the alleged criminal network. The contrast: political prisoners without medical attention in Venezuela. Cilia Flores's demand for medical attention before a U.S. judge contrasts sharply with the situation faced by thousands of political prisoners in Venezuela during Nicolas Maduro's government. According to data from Foro Penal, at least 17 political prisoners have died in state custody since 2014, many of them due to a lack of timely medical attention or in circumstances that have never been clarified. On repeated occasions, family members and lawyers denounced delays in hospital transfers, denial of treatment, and deliberate abandonment. As of December 29, 2025, the Penal Forum registered 863 political prisoners in Venezuela: 755 men, 106 women, and one adolescent; 687 civilians and 176 military personnel. Since 2014, the organization has documented 18,612 politically motivated arrests, in a sustained pattern of persecution. Most of those currently detained were arrested after the July 2014 elections. Between July 29 and August 13 of that year, more than 2,400 people were detained, a figure that surpassed any previous wave of repression in both speed and intensity. In addition, more than 9,000 people are subjected to restrictive measures of liberty, such as travel bans, periodic court appearances, or house arrest, without final sentences. For years, the Maduro government denied the existence of political prisoners, labeling them “terrorists,” “coup plotters,” or “mercenaries.” Meanwhile, reports of untreated illnesses, severe malnutrition, and deaths in custody piled up without independent investigations or sanctions.Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the regime's key figures, is accused, among other things, of having allied himself with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, as well as with criminal cartels, to "send tons of cocaine to the United States." Flores is accused by prosecutors of having actively participated in coordinating meetings and logistics for the alleged criminal network. The contrast: political prisoners without medical attention in Venezuela. Cilia Flores's demand for medical attention before a U.S. judge contrasts sharply with the situation faced by thousands of political prisoners in Venezuela during Nicolas Maduro's government. According to data from Foro Penal, at least 17 political prisoners have died in state custody since 2014, many of them due to a lack of timely medical attention or in circumstances that have never been clarified. On repeated occasions, family members and lawyers denounced delays in hospital transfers, denial of treatment, and deliberate abandonment. As of December 29, 2025, the Penal Forum registered 863 political prisoners in Venezuela: 755 men, 106 women, and one adolescent; 687 civilians and 176 military personnel. Since 2014, the organization has documented 18,612 politically motivated arrests, in a sustained pattern of persecution. Most of those currently detained were arrested after the July 2014 elections. Between July 29 and August 13 of that year, more than 2,400 people were detained, a figure that surpassed any previous wave of repression in both speed and intensity. In addition, more than 9,000 people are subjected to restrictive measures of liberty, such as travel bans, periodic court appearances, or house arrest, without final sentences. For years, the Maduro government denied the existence of political prisoners, labeling them “terrorists,” “coup plotters,” or “mercenaries.” Meanwhile, reports of untreated illnesses, severe malnutrition, and deaths in custody piled up without independent investigations or sanctions.Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the regime's key figures, is accused, among other things, of having allied himself with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, as well as with criminal cartels, to "send tons of cocaine to the United States." Flores is accused by prosecutors of having actively participated in coordinating meetings and logistics for the alleged criminal network. The contrast: political prisoners without medical attention in Venezuela. Cilia Flores's demand for medical attention before a U.S. judge contrasts sharply with the situation faced by thousands of political prisoners in Venezuela during Nicolas Maduro's government. According to data from Foro Penal, at least 17 political prisoners have died in state custody since 2014, many of them due to a lack of timely medical attention or in circumstances that have never been clarified. On repeated occasions, family members and lawyers denounced delays in hospital transfers, denial of treatment, and deliberate abandonment. As of December 29, 2025, the Penal Forum registered 863 political prisoners in Venezuela: 755 men, 106 women, and one adolescent; 687 civilians and 176 military personnel. Since 2014, the organization has documented 18,612 politically motivated arrests, in a sustained pattern of persecution. Most of those currently detained were arrested after the July 2014 elections. Between July 29 and August 13 of that year, more than 2,400 people were detained, a figure that surpassed any previous wave of repression in both speed and intensity. In addition, more than 9,000 people are subjected to restrictive measures of liberty, such as travel bans, periodic court appearances, or house arrest, without final sentences. For years, the Maduro government denied the existence of political prisoners, labeling them “terrorists,” “coup plotters,” or “mercenaries.” Meanwhile, reports of untreated illnesses, severe malnutrition, and deaths in custody piled up without independent investigations or sanctions.Political prisoners without medical care in Venezuela

The demand for medical care presented by Cilia Flores before a US judge contrasts sharply with the situation faced by thousands of political prisoners in Venezuela during Nicolas Maduro's government.

According to data from Foro Penal, at least 17 political prisoners have died in state custody since 2014, many of them due to a lack of timely medical attention or in circumstances that have never been clarified. On numerous occasions, family members and lawyers have denounced delays in hospital transfers, denial of treatment, and deliberate abandonment.

As of December 29, 2025, Foro Penal registered 863 political prisoners in Venezuela: 755 men, 106 women, and one adolescent; 687 civilians and 176 military personnel.

Since 2014, the organization has documented 18,612 politically motivated arrests, in a sustained pattern of persecution. Most of those currently detained were arrested after the July 2014 elections. Between July 29 and August 13 of that year, more than 2,400 people were detained, a figure that surpassed any previous wave of repression in both speed and intensity. In addition, more than 9,000 people are subjected to restrictive measures of liberty, such as travel bans, periodic court appearances, or house arrest, without final sentences. For years, the Maduro government denied the existence of political prisoners, labeling them “terrorists,” “coup plotters,” or “mercenaries.” Meanwhile, reports of untreated illnesses, severe malnutrition, and deaths in custody piled up without independent investigations or sanctions.Political prisoners without medical care in Venezuela

The demand for medical care presented by Cilia Flores before a US judge contrasts sharply with the situation faced by thousands of political prisoners in Venezuela during Nicolas Maduro's government.

According to data from Foro Penal, at least 17 political prisoners have died in state custody since 2014, many of them due to a lack of timely medical attention or in circumstances that have never been clarified. On numerous occasions, family members and lawyers have denounced delays in hospital transfers, denial of treatment, and deliberate abandonment.

As of December 29, 2025, Foro Penal registered 863 political prisoners in Venezuela: 755 men, 106 women, and one adolescent; 687 civilians and 176 military personnel.

Since 2014, the organization has documented 18,612 politically motivated arrests, in a sustained pattern of persecution. Most of those currently detained were arrested after the July 2014 elections. Between July 29 and August 13 of that year, more than 2,400 people were detained, a figure that surpassed any previous wave of repression in both speed and intensity. In addition, more than 9,000 people are subjected to restrictive measures of liberty, such as travel bans, periodic court appearances, or house arrest, without final sentences. For years, the Maduro government denied the existence of political prisoners, labeling them “terrorists,” “coup plotters,” or “mercenaries.” Meanwhile, reports of untreated illnesses, severe malnutrition, and deaths in custody piled up without independent investigations or sanctions.such as travel bans, periodic court appearances, or house arrest, without final sentences.

For years, the Maduro government denied the existence of political prisoners, labeling them “terrorists,” “coup plotters,” or “mercenaries.” Meanwhile, reports of untreated illnesses, severe malnutrition, and deaths in custody piled up without independent investigations or sanctions.