Nicolas Maduro, the ousted President of Venezuela, asserted sovereign immunity and pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the United States. ^[1] Nicolás Maduro, the former President of Venezuela, requested a judge in New York to dismiss criminal charges filed against him. ^[2] The unemployment rate in Venezuela reached 9.5% in the May-July 2026 quarter, representing an increase of 0.8 percentage points compared to the same period in the previous year. ^[3] On September 2, Vladimir Adrianza, a Venezuelan internationalist and economist, stated that the US-Venezuela energy agreement must be subject to a binding popular consultation. ^[4] A proposed agreement allows the United States to access approximately one-fifth of Venezuela's proven oil reserves through a private intermediary for the next 25 years. ^[5] A total of 194 homicides occurred in the area during 2026. ^[6] The article states that Venezuela's political party system is currently facing serious questioning and challenges regarding its leadership. ^[7] Barry Pollack, Maduro's lawyer, stated in a court filing that the prosecution violates the absolute immunity from criminal jurisdiction to which heads of state have been entitled for hundreds of years. ^[8] Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy involving groups like the FARC, ELN, and the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as cocaine importation conspiracy. ^[9] Maduro's legal team, represented by lawyer Barry Pollack, filed a motion to dismiss the indictment arguing that the US court lacks jurisdiction because Maduro is recognized by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as its head of state. ^[10] Nicolás Maduro was detained by US law enforcement on January 3 during a military operation and subsequently removed from the country. ^[11] The Federal Prosecutor's Office of New York accuses Nicolás Maduro of collaborating with terrorist organizations and seeking enrichment by occupying government posts in Venezuela for more than 25 years. ^[12]