Ankara / Anatolia

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein set June 1, 2027, as the start date for the trial of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. US forces had detained the couple in a military operation inside Venezuela last January.

This case is unprecedented in the history of US-Venezuelan relations, as a head of state is being tried on US soil.

ABC News reported that Judge Hellerstein issued the ruling during a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, and Maduro and his wife will appear in court on the aforementioned date.

In response, Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, confirmed that his client enjoys official immunity from prosecution as a head of a sovereign state.

Maduro's lawyer explained that he is in the process of filing a formal objection to the indictment based on this immunity.

The detention dates back to last January 3, when the US military carried out an attack on Venezuela that resulted in casualties and led to the arrest of Maduro and his wife and their transfer to US territory.

US President Donald Trump announced at the time the execution of a large-scale attack targeting Maduro which resulted in him and his wife being taken out of the country.

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi had announced that the charges against Maduro and his wife include 'drug-related terrorism,' cocaine trafficking, and possession of automatic weapons and explosives for use against the United States.

The defense will focus on Maduro's immunity as president, which may raise complex international legal issues. The trial comes amid previous US accusations that Maduro leads a drug-related criminal organization. Additionally, the military operation that led to his arrest may raise questions about Venezuelan sovereignty and US intervention. Legal proceedings are expected to continue for several years before a final verdict is reached.