Venezuela's Maduro, wife Flores charged in US over alleged torture - Reuters

The United States Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, alleging involvement in a program of torture and other human‑rights violations. The indictment, unsealed in a federal court, accuses the couple of directing or participating in the systematic abuse of Venezuelan citizens.

According to the filing, the alleged torture program was carried out by agents acting at the behest of the Maduro government. The indictment claims that individuals were subjected to severe physical and psychological harm, including beatings, electric shocks, and other forms of cruel treatment, in facilities controlled by state security forces.

The new charges are in addition to an earlier U.S. indictment that accuses Maduro and Flores of participating in a multinational drug‑trafficking conspiracy. That prior case alleges the couple facilitated the movement of narcotics from South America into the United States, using the Venezuelan state apparatus to conceal and transport the shipments.

The torture indictment further alleges that thousands of Venezuelans were “harassed, threatened, arrested, prosecuted, assaulted, tortured, or killed” by officials acting on orders from the Maduro administration. The complaint describes a pattern of repression targeting political opponents, protestors, and other perceived dissenters, suggesting a coordinated effort to silence opposition.

If convicted, the charges could result in significant criminal penalties for both Maduro and Flores, including potential imprisonment and asset forfeiture. The filing also signals a broader U.S. strategy of holding foreign officials accountable for alleged human‑rights abuses and illicit activities, although the case will proceed through the U.S. judicial system and may be subject to diplomatic and legal challenges.