Can Maduro get a fair trial?

Would this be a jury trial? If so, who will be the jury of Maduro’s peers? What judge will hear the case?

If convicted, does he serve time in a US Prison? If acquitted, does he simply go home?

What is the legal basis and history of citizens of one country being tried for crimes based on the laws of another country, if the crime was not committed within the sovereign borders of that country?

This seems like a legal shitshow that was not thought through…

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

He would need be charged for a real offence first, and he has not committed a crime by US law on US territory, so it is hard to see how he can legally be charged and tried under US law in the USA.

It is also hard to see how he can be guaranteed a fair trial in a country with such feverish internal politics, although it does appear the American judiciciary is doing its best to maintain its impartiality.

Particular crimes regarded as those internationally are a matter for the International Criminal Court, based in Holland.

Whatever the wrong-doings of Maduro, however serious by normal standards, the US government's action could itself be very highly illegal under international law.

It was reported that Maduro was taken to America blindfolded and in handcuffs, which if true suggest parading as much as security.

The USA's statement that it will administer Venezuela (how?) is of equally dubious legality; and soon followed by a gleeful announcement that American companies will expand the country's oil industry - for Venezuela's or the USA's benefit?

However, we must not overlook that there are plenty of Venezuelans pleased to Maduro go, whatever their own feelings on the US strikes against their country.

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@ArishMell Same as Noriega

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@AthrillatheHunt I'll have to take you word for that as I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it, but this latest is by no means the first time the USA had tried to tell another country who shall run it.

Nor is Mr.Maduro by any means the last or nor probably only dictator of a Southern American country.

As always it is the unfortunate populace who come off worst.

Strictmichael75 · 61-69, M

@ArishMell Will see how Congress will react because he has over stepped his power, illegally!!

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Strictmichael75 Good point....

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@ArishMell it certainly isn’t . Years ago Austrian voters elected right wingers. We told them to redo the election and have the proper outcome and they did

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@AthrillatheHunt Ah, but when?

Is yours a rather roundabout reference to Adolf Hitler, who made himself Reichschancellor of Germany, and his eventual downfall?

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@ArishMell I’m talking about this century dude. 2016 nothing to do w Adolph.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@AthrillatheHunt I don't what is a "dude" as I am not familiar with American slang...

However, never mind that.

You merely said "years ago"... So I could not tell.

So, I take you are an Austrian describing your own country's fairly recent elections?

If not, who are the "we" who:

- ordered Austria to re-run its election (presumably with new candidates?), and how ?

- defined "right wing" within a European, democratic, sovereign nation's own political spectrum?

- approved the new candidates, and how?

- defined what would happen if the second ballot returned similar results?

I hope only the Austrians !

At the extreme, if the "we" were foreign, the European Union via its own Parliament, as Austria is an EU Member; but the EU keeps well out of individual countries' domestic elections unless really pushed. Even then it cannot do much about an election that was free and fair; although it has been known to order re-runs of EU-constitution referenda.

I mentioned Adolf knowing full well, as you might too, that Austria has or had very strict laws against promoting Hitler's ideology and insignia, and against denying the Holocaust.

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

@AthrillatheHunt OK - Thanks for the explanation! I'm a Limey! :-)

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@ArishMell bollox! Hahaha