“世纪审判”首次听证会：马杜罗“我无罪、我是个正直的人”，法官“92岁高龄”，“36年前有先例”

Core Viewpoint - The article reports on the first court appearance of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a U.S. federal court, where they both pleaded not guilty to various charges, including drug trafficking and conspiracy [1][4]. Group 1: Court Proceedings - Maduro and Flores appeared in court on January 5, where Maduro claimed he was "kidnapped" and insisted on his innocence [1][4]. - The court session was presided over by Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who emphasized that the current proceedings were only for identity confirmation, and legal defenses would be addressed later [5][10]. - The next hearing is scheduled for March 17, with Maduro's legal team planning to challenge the legality of the U.S. actions [7][9]. Group 2: Legal Context - Maduro's defense argues that as a head of state, he is entitled to sovereign immunity, questioning the legality of the U.S. military actions [5][13]. - Historical precedent from the 1989 case of Manuel Noriega is cited, where the U.S. courts ruled that sovereign immunity does not protect individuals from drug trafficking charges [13]. Group 3: Geopolitical Implications - The Venezuelan government characterizes the U.S. actions as "military aggression" and highlights underlying geopolitical motives related to resources [16]. - The situation poses risks for global energy markets and emerging market investors, particularly concerning potential power vacuums and social unrest in Venezuela [16].