Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government plans to release up to 36 people, including 12 Americans, in exchange for the Washington government’s release of a Maduro ally, a senior Venezuelan source said on Wednesday.
Maduro’s ally is Colombian businessman Alex Saab, the source said. U.S. prosecutors accused Saab of taking about $350 million from Venezuela through the United States in a scheme that included bribes to Venezuelan government officials. He denies the accusation.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s sanctions on Venezuela were eased in October in response to the administration’s formal agreement for fair elections in 2024.
But the White House had said in recent weeks that it was prepared to “break” sanctions relief unless progress was made on prisoner releases.
Although the publications can be seen as a move by Maduro to meet US demands, Saab’s return would represent a victory for Maduro. Saab has not yet been convicted and his return to Venezuela is considered unlikely.
Washington has given the Venezuelan government until November 30 to move forward with lifting the ban on opposition candidates from holding public office and begin releasing political and US prisoners. “unjustly detained” to prevent the reintroduction of sanctions.
Venezuela is allowing opposition candidates to appeal their ban but did not make much progress in releasing prisoners on Wednesday.
Maduro will hold an event later this Wednesday, but the government has not announced details.
The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the US has already approved Saab.
A lawyer for Saab declined to comment, but neither the White House nor the State Department immediately responded to a request for comment. Saab has pleaded not guilty and a trial date has not yet been set.
Among those expected to be released are 20 Venezuelans who have been in prison for some time, the source said. Another four are involved in the election campaign of opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado or in the organization of the opposition primaries in October.
Reuters could not immediately determine the identities of the 12 Americans released.
U.S. citizens deemed “wrongfully imprisoned” by the U.S. government include: Eyvin Hernández, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Ryan Cristella, and Savoi Wright.
Hernandez and Kenemore were arrested in March 2022 near the Venezuela-Colombia border, while Cristella was arrested in July last year. Charges were filed against the three men who attempted to enter the country illegally.
Other Americans arrested in the South American country include: former Green Berets Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who were arrested for their part in a botched armed robbery in 2020.
Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
