NEW YORK – U.S. federal prosecutors have accused Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, of participating in a conspiracy involving the torture of political opponents, military personnel, and other detainees as part of an alleged campaign of repression designed to maintain political control in Venezuela.
The allegations are contained in an updated indictment presented by U.S. prosecutors, which describes acts of violence and intimidation allegedly committed against individuals considered opponents of Maduro's government.
According to the prosecution, the alleged abuses included electric shocks, sexual assaults, the administration of drugs to detainees, and threats against their family members.
The indictment also refers to the alleged mistreatment of three American citizens who were detained in Venezuela.
Federal prosecutors contend that torture was used as an instrument of political repression, targeting individuals perceived as threats to the Venezuelan government.
The allegations extend beyond isolated incidents of mistreatment. Prosecutors argue that the abuses formed part of a broader conspiracy intended to intimidate opponents and discourage resistance to those in power.
Maduro and Flores are accused of participating in a conspiracy to commit torture, although the prosecution must establish their alleged involvement through evidence presented in court.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty during proceedings before a federal court in New York on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Their pleas mean that the allegations remain contested and will have to be examined during the criminal proceedings.
The updated indictment introduces serious allegations concerning the treatment of detainees in Venezuela, including individuals allegedly targeted because of their political activities or perceived opposition to the government.
The accusations involving American citizens also give the case an additional dimension, as U.S. prosecutors seek to establish criminal responsibility for alleged abuses against their nationals.
The case raises questions about the extent to which senior political figures can be held criminally responsible for alleged acts of torture carried out as part of a government's security and detention practices.
However, the indictment represents the prosecution's account of the alleged conduct and does not constitute a judicial finding that the defendants committed the offenses.
Maduro and Flores remain entitled to challenge the evidence and present their defense.
The proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can prove the alleged conspiracy and establish the individual criminal responsibility of each defendant.
No conviction has been entered in relation to the torture allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.