Lavrov demands immediate release of Maduro and wife at UN General Assembly

September 26, 2026 at 09:05 PM2 min

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife from a U.S. prison during the 81st UN General Assembly general debate. He also condemned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his family members as an unacceptable act of force.

Key Facts

Lavrov called the U.S. invasion of Venezuela a violation of all norms, including moral ones, and said it ended with the capture of Maduro and his wife.
He insisted on the swift release of the Venezuelan leader and his wife and on preventing similar excesses in the future.
Lavrov said international law directly prescribes immunity and inviolability for senior state officials.
He described the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members as an unacceptable manifestation of forceful dictate.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva earlier condemned the U.S. accusations against Maduro, saying that if Maduro made a mistake, he should be tried and investigated, not simply accused.

Demand for Release

Lavrov made the demand during the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, with the broadcast available on the Russian Foreign Ministry's YouTube channel. He recalled that earlier this year, in violation of all norms, including moral ones, the U.S. invasion of Venezuela ended with the capture of Maduro and his wife and their extrajudicial detention in an American prison. The minister insisted on the swift release of the Venezuelan leader and his wife and on preventing similar excesses in the future.

Condemnation of Khamenei Killing

Lavrov also condemned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members. He said international law directly prescribes immunity and inviolability for senior state officials. He called the killing an unacceptable manifestation of forceful dictate.

International Reactions

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva earlier condemned the U.S. accusations against Maduro. Lula said that if Maduro made a mistake, he should be tried and investigated, and the U.S. cannot simply accuse him.