Photos Claiming Maduro’s Starvation in Prison Are AI-Generated and False

Social media platforms have recently circulated images purportedly showing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a state of extreme thinness and exhaustion, alleging that he is being starved while in custody.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held at the Federal Detention Center in Brooklyn since their arrest by U.S. authorities in January.

The sources sharing these images claim that the former Venezuelan president is subjected to harsh detention conditions and is denied meals appropriate for his health status.

However, several press reports have confirmed that the images circulating, which depict Maduro as emaciated or suffering from hunger during his detention, are fake and generated by artificial intelligence.

Media outlets including the Associated Press and The Guardian noted that since Maduro’s arrest, numerous false reports accompanied by doctored photos and videos have been widely disseminated.

They clarified that many of the images claimed to document Maduro’s condition in captivity were created using AI technology, while other photos and clips were taken out of their original context.

Details on Maduro’s Detention Conditions

A report by the American network CNN revealed details about Maduro’s detention conditions inside the Brooklyn prison in New York.

The report stated that Maduro is held in near-total isolation for up to 23 hours a day, with only one hour allowed for activities under strict supervision.

It also mentioned a decline in Maduro’s health attributed to poor food quality, a complaint echoed by other inmates and confirmed by their legal representatives.

In March, Maduro and his wife released their first message since their arrest, stating that they were "strong" and spending their time praying in prison.

According to Reuters, the message written by Maduro and Flores and shared by their relatives on the platform X read: "We are fine, we are strong, calm, and praying all the time."

The message added: "We have received your calls and messages... your prayers. Every word of love, every sign of affection, every expression of support nourishes our spirit and strengthens us spiritually."

Restrictions on Communication and Court Appearances

Following their arrest in an operation in Caracas on January 3, Maduro and his wife were transferred to a prison in Brooklyn, New York.

Maduro is not permitted internet access or to read newspapers while incarcerated, but he is allowed to speak by phone with his family and lawyers for 15 minutes, according to a source close to him.

Since his first court appearance in New York on January 5, Maduro has made no public statements. During that session, he identified himself as the "President of the Republic of Venezuela," claimed to be "kidnapped" by the United States, and has since described himself as a "prisoner of war."