Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has issued a forceful demand for the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro during an address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Gil characterized Maduro’s detention as a “political operation disguised as judicial discourse” rather than a legitimate law enforcement action.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held in New York since January 3rd on charges related to drug trafficking and alleged “narco-terrorism” conspiracy. Despite the dramatic capture operation that reportedly resulted in over one hundred casualties, Venezuela has maintained relative internal stability under interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s leadership, though political tensions persist within the government.
The diplomatic confrontation occurs against a backdrop of severe economic challenges. The International Monetary Fund recently described Venezuela’s economic and humanitarian situation as “highly fragile,” with triple-digit inflation and rapidly declining currency value—conditions exacerbated by both international sanctions and domestic mismanagement.
In a significant development, Venezuela has initiated a reconciliation process through the recently enacted Amnesty Law 2026 for Democratic Coexistence. This legislation has already resulted in pardons for 379 political prisoners this week alone—a remarkable shift in a nation that historically denied the existence of such detainees.
Gil utilized the UN platform to articulate a broader philosophical position, asserting that “human rights must not become instruments of political warfare; they cannot be selective or dependent on ideological preference.” He criticized what he characterized as disproportionate scrutiny of certain nations while other humanitarian crises, particularly the suffering of the Palestinian people, receive inadequate international attention.
The United States has vigorously rejected Venezuela’s allegations, with a State Department spokesperson maintaining that Maduro’s arrest resulted from judicial processes addressing serious criminal activities. “The United States remains committed to justice and democracy in Venezuela,” the spokesperson stated.
The European Union has called for peaceful resolution to the crisis, emphasizing the importance of rule of law and human rights protections. Meanwhile, Mexico and several other Latin American nations have criticized the US operation as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, advocating instead for dialogue and adherence to international norms.
The UN Human Rights Council has announced it will further investigate the situation, while human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for transparency and fair judicial proceedings for all involved parties.