The Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, announced on Thursday that the Public Ministry has issued an arrest warrant against the former president of Parliament Juan Guaidó, exiled in the United States since April, whom he accuses of several crimes, including money laundering. .
In a statement to journalists, Saab explained that, in addition to issuing the arrest warrant, three prosecutors designated for the case will make “the respective red alert request to Interpol so that this subject pays for these crimes.”
Guaidó, an opponent who presided over the so-called “interim government” of Venezuela, which was recognized by the United States and other countries between January 2019 and the end of 2022, is also accused of treason, usurpation of functions, profit or distraction of money, securities or public goods and association.
“Using the figure of a fictitious government, he caused losses to the Venezuelan State,” said the prosecutor, who estimates the amount embezzled by the anti-Chavista at around 18,012 million euros.
The official cited a “ruling” from a court in the North American country that, he said, indicates that the former deputy “has accessed the assets of the subsidiaries of (the state oil company) PDVSA in the United States and has used them to finance himself.” For this reason, Saab hopes that, “through international criminal cooperation, this subject will be handed over to the” Caribbean country.
The Public Ministry has opened 23 investigations into Guaidó for alleged crimes committed in the “interim government” and five other cases related to a Venezuelan company in Colombia, but never spoke of an arrest warrant against him, until today.
Although the opponent has not responded directly to these accusations, through social networks he shared an article that talks about the “defense” of Citgo, PDVSA’s subsidiary in the US, during his time in the interim.
Former president of the National Assembly, Guaidó declared himself “interim president” of Venezuela in January 2019 following the re-election of President Nicolás Maduro in 2018 during a vote boycotted by the opposition and not recognized by many countries, including the United States and France.
In 2019, Washington, as well as part of the international community, recognized Juan Guaidó. The then US president, Donald Trump, imposed numerous sanctions on Caracas. The opposition ended this interim presidency last January, considering that it had not met its objectives of political change.
US President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, maintains that he does not recognize Maduro as president and has left most sanctions in place. His government, however, last year approved an oil project by the US group Chevron in Venezuela and said he was willing to ease pressure on the country in exchange for efforts from the Venezuelan government.
