Nicolas Maduro Guerra, son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has disclosed the circumstances surrounding the first photograph released following his father's arrest.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, known as "Nicolasito," stated in a post on the X social network that the photo was taken on June 25, one day after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
He noted that the individual who took the photo met with Maduro at the time and observed that the president appeared visibly shaken and saddened by the earthquake. It is reported that Maduro monitored the situation from his television and made 4-5 authorized phone calls that day to inquire about the conditions in the La Guaira region.
Nicolasito mentioned that his father was initially reluctant to be photographed but agreed after the other party insisted. He stated that Maduro believed this image would serve as a message to the world, demonstrating his strength and resilience.
Regarding the delivery of the photo to the family, Nicolas Maduro Guerra explained that the printed images were sent via mail on July 13 and arrived at an address in the United States on August 25. Upon receiving the photo, the family discussed how it should be presented to the public.
According to Nicolasito, during a phone call on August 28, Nicolas Maduro dictated the message to be conveyed to the public. He emphasized that they would continue the struggle for his parents' freedom.
It should be noted that the first photos of Maduro were released to the public on August 30, following his detention by the United States on January 3. This event occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions; the Venezuelan leadership has accused the United States of attacking military and civilian targets in the country following explosions in Caracas on January 3. At the time, US President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been removed from the country. The US Department of Justice has brought serious charges against them, including drug trafficking and terrorism.
