Nicolás Maduro, the former leader of Venezuela, who is being held in the United States after being captured by American military forces, posted photos from prison on the social network X. In the images he appears in a gray tracksuit and flashes a two-finger victory gesture. Alongside the pictures he left a message: "I want you to know that we are holding strong, with hearts filled with your love." Journalists who examined the post also noted that Maduro appears to have lost weight since being taken into custody.

Contradictory Data

The key detail of the post was a discrepancy in the dates. The post itself appeared online on August 30, yet the timestamps on the photographs themselves point to June 25. According to The Independent, that day falls in the period immediately after the powerful earthquakes in Venezuela, which killed more than 6,500 people. Exactly when the accompanying message was written remains unclear. A separate question is raised by the very mechanism of the publication: users and journalists asked how a person being held in custody in the United States managed to take and upload the photos. Presumably, the post was published by one of his relatives who has access to the X account. Another detail: the photos appeared a few days after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Venezuela over its oil resources, while the timestamps indicate that the pictures were taken well before that deal was announced.

Context: Capture and Charges

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured during an American military operation in Caracas in January, after which they were brought to the United States. U.S. federal prosecutors charge Maduro with participating in a conspiracy for narco-terrorism and with importing cocaine into the United States. According to the indictment, he headed a scheme for supplying drugs from Venezuela to the United States.

Judicial Prospects

Earlier, a first court hearing was held in New York, lasting about 30 minutes, in which Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty. According to available information, the trial of Maduro on the merits will not begin before 2027. As reported by Bloomberg, at the current stage only the schedule for exchanging evidence and preliminary procedures are planned.