Caracas, Sep 2 (EFE).- The Venezuelan government announced Monday that it will reserve the right to take legal action to “repair” the damage caused by the confiscation of President Nicolás Maduro’s official plane, which was seized in the Dominican Republic by order of the United States authorities, as part of the sanctions applied to Caracas.
Venezuela “reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation, as well as all other damages caused by the criminal policy” of the United States.Maduro’s government said in a statement, in which they called the confiscation “piracy.”
According to Washington, the aircraft, which was transferred to Florida after being “illegally purchased” for $13 million, is a Dassault Falcon 900EX owned by Maduro and people affiliated with him in Venezuela, which was operated on his behalf.
However, Venezuela has said that It is a “criminal practice” applied by the United States “justifying” itself with the numerous sanctions applied against high-ranking Chavista officials in recent years.
“This action shows that no State is safe from illegal actions that ignore international law (…) The United States has already demonstrated that it uses its economic and military power to intimidate and pressure States such as the Dominican Republic to become accomplices in its criminal acts,” the statement continued.
According to Caracas, “this is not an isolated action” but rather “part of an escalation of actions against the Government” following the elections of July 28, whose official result gave victory to Maduro, which has not been recognized by many countries, since the majority opposition denounces fraud and claims victory.
According to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, in late 2022 and early 2023, individuals affiliated with Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the illegal purchase of the aircraft from a company based in the Southern District of Florida.
The aircraft was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023 and has since flown “almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been used for the benefit of Maduro and his representatives, including to transport Maduro on visits to other countries.”
Garland added that the Department will continue to pursue those who violate sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using U.S. resources “to undermine the national security of the United States.”
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2024-09-04 02:26:26
