The United States announced on Wednesday the release of ten Americans detained in Venezuela, in exchange for which Joe Biden granted clemency to Alex Saab, a close friend of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accused of serious embezzlement by the American justice system.
2 mins
Alex Saab was welcomed with great fanfare in Caracas at the airport and then at the presidential palace. “ We have succeeded. I want to welcome this courageous man. After 1,280 days of sequestration, the truth has triumphed », Launched President Maduro, his government having spoken earlier of “victory”. “ Today, the miracle of freedom, of justice, has come true “, said Alex Saab in a brief speech.
The American President don’t mention Alex Saab in his press release. His release was a decision “ extremely difficult » to take, according to a senior White House official. Joe Biden indicated that of the ten Americans released, six were detained by Venezuela “ unfounded ”, and he said to himself “ grateful that their ordeal is over “.
The American president also announced that Venezuelan authorities had handed over to the United States a fugitive, Leonard Francis, involved in a huge corruption scandal affecting the American navy.
Qatar’s mediation
The agreement between the United States and Venezuela, in which Qatar played a mediating role, also sees Caracas release at least twenty political prisoners. Among the freed Venezuelans is a group of trade unionists arrested in July 2022 during protests for wage increases. They were sentenced to 16 years in prison during a trial for “ conspiracy ” And ” conspiracy to commit a crime “.
A Venezuelan opposition figure, Roberto Abdul, accused of “ treason ” and of ” conspiracy with a foreign power ”, also found freedom as part of this agreement.
“Furthermore, they maintain their commitment to democratic elections. (…) They made detailed commitments. We’ll see if they keep them. And we will hold them accountable,” underlined Joe Biden, assuring that he did not speak with Nicolas Maduro. “ We have defined specific conditions for holding democratic elections. He accepted them all. »
(With AFP)