Cilia Flores’s son said she has mitral valve prolapse and that the jail lacks suitable conditions for post-surgery recovery. Her lawyers sought house arrest in September.
Cilia Flores, the wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has a heart condition and is being held in a facility that does not provide suitable conditions for recovery after an operation she needs, her son, Venezuelan lawmaker Nicolás Maduro Guerra, said. Figaro reported his remarks, citing AFP.
Maduro Guerra said Flores has mitral valve prolapse. In September, her lawyers asked a U.S. judge to release her from detention before trial, citing a serious heart condition and seeking house arrest. The defense argued she should be allowed to await trial at home.
RIA Novosti reported that the United States seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife on Jan. 3 and took them to New York. U.S. authorities have accused them of involvement in “narcoterrorism.” Those allegations are the U.S. government’s position. Delcy Rodríguez, previously the country’s vice president, became Venezuela’s acting president after their detention.