Protesters gather outside court to urge US to free Maduro

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Protesters gather outside court to urge US to free Maduro

2026-01-06 02:07 Last Updated At：17:57

Demonstrators gathered outside a New York federal court on Monday, protesting against the U.S. seizure and criminal indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Protesters held Venezuelan flags and placards, and called for the release of Maduro.

The Venezuelan president made his first court appearance Monday morning in New York after he was captured by U.S. forces in Venezuela on Saturday, along with his wife Cilia Flores.

Maduro pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges during his first court appearance in New York.

"I am innocent, I am not guilty," Maduro told the court, adding that he was seized at his home in Caracas and that he remains the president of Venezuela, according to media inside the courtroom.

Cilia Flores said at court that she is completely innocent of the charges brought against her by the United States, according to media reports.

The next hearing on the case against Maduro is scheduled for March 17.

In the early hours of Saturday, U.S. military forces carried out attacks and bombings in Caracas and other parts of Venezuela and took Maduro and his wife by force, before putting them in custody in New York.

Venezuelan bonds rally sharply with high risk

Venezuelan bonds rallied sharply on Monday after U.S. military action against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, yet analysts warn the gains are built on extreme risk and high speculation.

Defaulted government bonds jumped to 42 cents, up from 33 cents. Bonds for state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) also rose.

However, the fundamentals remain deeply troubled. Total government and PDVSA debt of 100 billion U.S. dollars eclipses Venezuela’s entire 80 billion-U.S. dollar GDP, signaling a severe inability to repay.

Analysts said that the economy in Venezuela has contracted to half its pre-default size with no real recovery. Thin trading volume also means prices are easily swung by minor transactions, amplifying liquidity risks.

The U.S. military launched a series of attacks against Venezuela on Jan 3, forcibly seizing Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife. Beyond military targets, the operation also resulted in casualties.