US charges former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with torture

By Greta Ruffino Published on 08/10/2026 - 18:20 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp The revised indictment includes several mentions of the involvement of Venezuela’s feared DGCIM military intelligence agency US authorities charged former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Thursday with conspiring to torture Venezuelan citizens to remain in power. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT “He authorized the use of torture against specific individuals and oversaw a system designed to use torture, arbitrary detention and violence as a means of repression against the political opposition,” says the revised indictment. The indictment alleges that thousands of Venezuelans were “harassed, threatened, arrested, prosecuted, assaulted, tortured, or killed” by people acting on behalf of Maduro’s government. The alleged abuse included electric shocks, beatings and asphyxiation. Maduro is also accused of approving torture methods and personally threatening to kill a prisoner’s child “as a form of psychological torture.” The indictment alleges that the torture victims included three US citizens, who were not named in the court documents. Related Did Trump order Maduro’s kidnapping based on Grok’s advice? The new indictment adds to the legal pressure on Maduro, who already faces charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the US. He now also faces allegations of human rights abuses committed during his presidency. Maduro and Flores, have been detained in New York since January, after US forces captured them during an overnight raid on their Caracas home. Both have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges and could face life imprisonment if convicted. Maduro has also been under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his crackdown on political opponents. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Maduro ally Alex Saab pleads guilty to money laundering in US court Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife look to end drug charges on immunity grounds Nicolás Maduro sued in US court over alleged extrajudicial killings in Venezuela Donald Trump Venezuela Nicolás Maduro Comments