The judicial offensive against Nicolás Maduro extends beyond the United States. While the ousted Venezuelan dictator appeared before a federal judge in New York, the Argentine Prosecutor's Office took a decisive step and formally requested the initiation of his extradition to prosecute him for crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela.
According to the agency EFE, Argentine prosecutor Carlos Stornelli requested on Monday that federal courts seek Maduro’s extradition from the United States, as part of an ongoing case in Buenos Aires based on the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows for the investigation of serious crimes against human rights regardless of where they were committed.
The request was directed to Judge Sebastián Ramos, who already has an active arrest warrant against the Chavista dictator.
Stornelli described the situation as "urgent," considering that Maduro is detained in U.S. territory and must appear before the Argentine courts to provide his testimony.
In his statement, the prosecutor requested that the extradition process be activated immediately so that the president can be subjected to judicial proceedings in Argentina, noted EFE.
The judicial request in Buenos Aires comes just days after Maduro's capture by U.S. forces and his transfer to New York, where he appeared for the first time before the Southern District Court.
There, flanked by federal agents and using headphones for simultaneous translation, he pleaded not guilty to the charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism brought against him by the Trump Administration.
"I was captured, I am still the president of my country," Maduro stated before Judge Alvin Hellerstein, insisting on his political legitimacy despite being in judicial custody.
His wife, Cilia Flores, also accused, appeared by his side, identifying herself as "the First Lady of Venezuela" and denying the charges.
The Argentine case dates back to 2023, when the Argentine Forum for the Defense of Democracy filed a complaint for crimes against humanity against the leadership of the Venezuelan regime.
In September 2024, Judge Ramos ordered the arrest of Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and other high-ranking officials, and requested Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant.
The Argentine Federal Court stated that the Venezuelan government implemented "a systematic, organized, and sustained plan" against the civilian population, through practices of persecution, kidnapping, torture, and murder.
The political context also carries weight. The Argentine president Javier Milei was one of the first leaders in the region to publicly support the U.S. attack that led to Maduro's capture, whom he described as a threat not only to Venezuela but to all of Latin America.
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