Maduro’s son says father shares New York prison cell with 18 inmates

Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who is being held in the United States, is reportedly sharing a prison cell with 18 other inmates, according to his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra.

In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Maduro Guerra said the former president is being held in New York under crowded conditions, Caliber.Az reports.

According to him, the well-known American rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine also spent some time in the same communal cell after violating the terms of his probation.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained by US forces in Caracas in early January and taken to New York.

They have been charged, including with narco-terrorism, over allegations that Maduro used his position to facilitate the shipment of large quantities of cocaine to the United States.

The former Venezuelan leader denies all charges.

The 35-year-old politician’s son, known by the nickname Nicolásito, also described the case as politically motivated and rejected any links between his family and drugs or terrorism.

He said the US military operation came as a surprise both to the Maduro family and to Venezuelan authorities, despite rising tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump ahead of the 3 January attack.

He added that Caracas had overestimated its own capabilities and had not sufficiently ensured his father’s security.

Maduro’s son also rejected Trump’s claims that the United States had effectively taken control of Venezuela’s governance following the arrest of the former president.

According to him, measures such as an amnesty law and the opening of the oil sector are initiatives taken by Venezuela itself. He noted that the country remains socialist but is being forced to make concessions.

At present, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is serving as acting president of Venezuela.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov