Maduro, his wife charged with conspiracy to commit torture

NEW YORK, October 8. /TASS/. A federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York has approved an updated indictment against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, charging them with conspiracy to commit torture.

"Nicolas Maduro Moros and Cilia Adela Flores De Maduro, the defendants <…> intentionally and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to commit acts under the color of law, specifically intended to inflict severe physical and mental pain and suffering <…> upon another person," the document said.

One of the alleged purposes of such actions, prosecutors said, was "to repress and punish political opposition, silence dissent and perceived dissent, preserve and protect the power and authority of the members of the conspiracy."

In addition to conspiracy to commit torture, Maduro and Flores face four other counts: two counts of possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, drug trafficking, and "narcoterrorism conspiracy."

On January 3, the United States attacked civilian and military sites in Venezuela, captured Maduro and his wife, and took them out of the country. Maduro and Flores appeared before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on January 5. US authorities charged them with involvement in drug trafficking, but both pleaded not guilty. Delcy Rodriguez, who served as Venezuela’s executive vice president under Maduro, is currently serving as the country’s interim president.