Switzerland freezes potential Maduro assets with immediate effect
The Swiss government announced on Monday that it has ordered the immediate freezing of any potential assets belonging to Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolás Maduro, in a move aimed at preventing capital flight. The decision also applies to individuals closely linked to him, while explicitly excluding members of the current Venezuelan government.
According to an official statement, the measure covers Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, as well as relatives and former ministers. Swiss authorities stated that if future judicial proceedings establish that the frozen funds are of illegal origin, they will ensure the assets are returned for the benefit of the Venezuelan population.
The asset freeze takes effect immediately and is valid for a period of four years, unless revised earlier. The Swiss government said the objective is to ensure that assets potentially acquired through illicit means cannot be transferred out of Switzerland under the current circumstances.
This decision complements existing Swiss sanctions against Venezuela, which have been in place since 2018 under the country’s embargo legislation and already include asset-freezing measures. The authorities emphasized that the new freeze targets individuals not previously subject to Swiss sanctions.
The move follows the recent US-led capture of Nicolás Maduro, an operation whose legality has been questioned by several countries. Switzerland reiterated that, in cases of political upheaval, it may take preventive action to preserve assets until judicial authorities from the concerned country submit formal requests for legal assistance.
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