Swiss authorities have frozen all assets of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and those close to him, according to a government statement released Monday, January 5. The measure, which takes effect immediately and remains in place for four years unless terminated later, was described as an effort “to prevent the export of potentially illegally acquired assets from Switzerland.”
The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not specify how many assets related to Maduro are held within its jurisdiction.
The asset freeze follows reports that Maduro has lost power and raises concerns that Venezuela may seek legal action in the future to recover assets allegedly obtained through illicit means.
Earlier on January 3, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a large-scale military strike against Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores.
Maduro was subsequently transported from Brooklyn to Manhattan and taken before a New York federal court to face drug trafficking charges.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called for the United States to release Maduro and emphasized the need for diplomatic dialogue to address ongoing tensions between the nations.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez reported that most of Maduro’s security personnel had died as a result of U.S. operations, stating that the Venezuelan parliament would resume its sessions on January 5.
Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Davis claimed that the rationale for the United States’ military action in Venezuela was entirely fabricated and that Washington would have been unlikely to remain silent if such actions had been taken against its own country.
