Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro invoked the principle of sovereign immunity and filed a petition with a United States court requesting the dismissal of criminal proceedings against him. Maduro's defense argues that, as a sitting head of state, he cannot be tried in foreign courts.
The United States Attorney's Office will have until October 2 to submit a formal response to these motions filed by the Venezuelan president's defense. This is an important procedural step that will determine the course of the case.
The case arises in the context of diplomatic tensions between Venezuela and the United States, which have lasted several years. Washington does not recognize Maduro's government as legitimate and has implemented various sanctions against the South American country. Sovereign immunity is a principle of international law that protects heads of state from legal proceedings in foreign courts.
The legal battle in American courts is occurring in parallel with the political crisis in Venezuela, where Maduro remains in power after controversial elections that were not recognized by several Western countries. The outcome of this judicial matter could have significant implications for bilateral relations between the two countries.
