“In protest against the aggression, we will not take part in the round of negotiations planned for tomorrow,” said delegation head Jorge Rodríguez. Shortly before, it became known that Alex Saab had been deported from the Cape Verde Islands to the United States.
The Colombian businessman was arrested there in June last year when his private jet had to refuel on the way to Iran. According to the Venezuelan government, he was on a humanitarian mission. Saab is said to have sold multi-million dollar groceries to the Venezuelan government for their controversial social program Clap.
In the United States and Colombia, Saab is wanted for money laundering, among other things. According to US investigators, Saab should also have extensive information about illegal business of the Maduro family and high-ranking officials in Venezuela. Most recently, the Venezuelan government had made Saab a delegate in negotiations with the opposition in Mexico.
Apparently in retaliation for the extradition of Saab, Venezuelan security forces arrested six US oil managers, according to media reports. The so-called “Citgo 6” had only been released from prison to house arrest a few months ago as part of a hesitant policy of detente. (SDA)