Russia demands immediate release of Maduro and his wife

Russia is insisting on the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, according to remarks from a Russian foreign ministry official reported by TASS.

The Russian official said that earlier this year, 'in violation of all norms, including moral norms,' a United States operation described as an invasion of Venezuela ended with the capture of Maduro and his wife and what Russia called their 'extrajudicial detention' in a U.S. prison.

TASS's report did not provide additional independent detail on the circumstances of Maduro's detention beyond the Russian official's characterization, and no comment from U.S. authorities was noted in the report.

The Maduro government has been the subject of longstanding tensions with Washington, and Russia has been among the countries expressing support for Maduro's government.