Maduro Asks US Court To Dismiss Indictment Against Him

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is asking a United States (US) court to dismiss the indictment against him, according to a document obtained, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

"President Maduro respectfully moves this Court to dismiss the Fourth Superseding Indictment against him," the complaint says.

Maduro's defence insists that his rights were violated during the criminal prosecution, it says.

"The conduct of the US government not only undermines Mr Maduro’s rights but also this Court’s mandate to provide a fair trial to all defendants who come before it in accordance with the protections afforded by the US Constitution," the document says.

On January 3, the US launched a massive attack on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and taking them to New York.

According to US authorities, they were allegedly involved in "narco-terrorism."

During their court appearance in New York, Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the wake of Maduro's capture, the Venezuelan Supreme Court temporarily transferred the duties of the head of state to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who was officially sworn in as acting President on January 5.

Since then, Washington and Caracas have undertaken a series of steps to thaw their long-strained ties.

In a related development, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported Venezuela's authorities are not allowed to pay for Maduro's defence in court, based on a document obtained. 

"The US government, even while authorising myriad commercial transactions with Venezuela, is prohibiting counsel from receiving untainted funds from the government of Venezuela, despite Venezuela’s obligation to fund Mr Maduro’s defence. Any trial that proceeds under these circumstances will be constitutionally defective and cannot result in a verdict that will withstand later challenge," the document says.

"The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has refused to reconsider its position and will not provide a licence that allows the government of Venezuela to fund the defence and is thereby interfering with Mr Maduro's right to retain counsel of his choice," it said.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI