Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has shared his first photos from a New York prison on the social media platform X, writing, "A small gift of love and hope."

Operativ Media reports that in January last year, Maduro, who was the president of Venezuela at the time, was arrested along with his wife, Cilia Flores, by the US military and removed from his country. 

This was carried out as part of an operation named "Absolute Determination."

Eight months later, Maduro has shown his daily life behind bars to the public for the first time. In the photos, presumably taken at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, Maduro appears thinner but smiling, wearing a gray tracksuit and flashing a "V" victory sign with both hands.

"I want you to know that we are standing firm, our hearts are full of your love. This love reaches us in the form of prayers, continuous efforts, solidarity, and genuine support. Thank you infinitely for every word, every gesture, every blessing," Nicolas Maduro wrote in a message addressed to his family, especially to "all his grandchildren, children, and all the generous people who love him."

According to Spain's El País newspaper, citing Nicolas Maduro's inner circle, the photos were taken on June 25 on the occasion of Father's Day. This date also coincides with just one day after a devastating earthquake in Venezuela that left more than 6,500 people dead and thousands missing.

According to El País, Nicolas Maduro maintains regular contact with Caracas. The former president calls the Venezuelan capital every day. He is allowed about 300 minutes of phone calls with the outside world per month, though each call cannot last more than 15 minutes.

At the end of July, a federal court in New York announced that the trial against Maduro and his wife in the US will begin on June 1, 2027.