Venezuela’s Maduro Asserts Immunity in US Court, Urges Dismissal of Charges The notion that sitting heads of state are immune from prosecution abroad is a cornerstone of international law, aimed at avoiding the politicization of diplomacy and potential retaliatory actions against foreign leaders.
In the case of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused of drug trafficking by US authorities, his lawyer's assertion of immunity raises more questions than answers.
Maduro's attorney, Barry Pollack, argued before Manhattan District Judge Alvin Hellerstein that his client should be exempt from prosecution due to his status as a head of state.