The key facts
- Konstantin Kosachev considers Maduro's release unlikely under the current US administration
- The court scheduled the start of the trial of Maduro and Cilia Flores for June 1, 2027
- In October, the US prosecution brought additional charges against the couple of conspiracy to commit torture
The senator's assessment
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev said that Nicolas Maduro is unlikely to walk out of an American prison, as long as Donald Trump's administration remains in power in the United States. “Under the current US administration, the option of President Maduro's release is unlikely,” the senator said in an interview with TASS. In his view, the further fate of the Venezuelan politician depends on how successfully he and his supporters can defend his interests and security; the parliamentarian noted that serious work is already underway in this direction, but gave no details.
Skepticism about the court
Kosachev doubted that an American court would take into account international-law arguments in Maduro's favor. In his assessment, Washington seeks to extend the reach of its own laws to other countries and will be guided exclusively by American legislation, disregarding UN decisions and expert findings. The senator expressed concern that such an approach could in time become predominant in international relations.
Background of the case
On January 3, 2026, the United States carried out a military operation in Venezuela, during which it captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Both were taken to New York, where on January 5 they appeared before a federal court on drug-trafficking-related charges. The couple rejected the charges, and the duties of head of Venezuela passed to Delcy Rodriguez, who had previously served as executive vice president. In July, the court scheduled the start of the trial for June 1, 2027. The defense intends to seek dismissal of the case, including by invoking head-of-state immunity. However, in October the American prosecution brought additional charges against the couple of conspiracy to commit torture — according to the prosecution, this refers to the persecution of political opponents. Maduro and Flores deny any involvement in the crimes.
Russia's position
Russia has repeatedly called for the release of the Venezuelan politician. On September 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded from the UN General Assembly rostrum that Maduro and his wife be released, pointing to the need to respect the immunity of senior state officials. It was later reported that Maduro's son sent a letter of gratitude to the Russian side for this position.
Significance of the situation
The situation concerns not only the fate of Maduro and his wife, but also the question of the limits of American courts' jurisdiction over foreign heads of state — this is precisely what both the defense's position, which invokes head-of-state immunity, and Lavrov's arguments at the UN point to. Practically, the key milestones for the parties will be the consideration of the motion to dismiss the case and the start of the trial scheduled for June 1, 2027, while the emergence of new charges in October shows that the scope of the case continues to expand. Kosachev's forecast, meanwhile, remains his personal assessment: there is no confirmed information about a possible release or a change in the American authorities' position.
