Allied businessman extradited to US, Venezuela retaliates immediately

Mural calling for the release of businessman Alex Saab in Venezuela. Photo: REUTERS

Venezuela has suspended talks with the opposition that were due to begin on October 17 after Cape Verde extradited a Colombian businessman close to President Nicolas Maduro to the United States on money laundering charges.

According to Reuters news agency, Congressman Jorge Rodriguez - head of the Venezuelan Government's negotiating team - made the announcement.

Mr. Rodriguez said the Venezuelan government will not attend the talks scheduled to begin on October 17.

"Due to this serious move, our delegation announces that it will suspend its participation in the negotiations. We will not attend the round of negotiations that was supposed to begin tomorrow, October 17, in Mexico City, to express our deepest disapproval of the aggressive attitude directed at this man, and at the same time to honor our delegate Alex Saab Moran," Mr. Rodriguez announced on October 16.

In September 2021, the Venezuelan government included Colombian businessman Alex Saab in the list of the negotiating team with the opposition in Mexico.

Mr. Saab was arrested in June 2020 when his plane landed to refuel in the African country of Cape Verde.

In 2019, US justice authorities charged the businessman with involvement in a bribery conspiracy in Venezuela.

Washington also sanctioned Mr. Saab for allegedly coordinating a corruption network that allegedly profited from a food subsidy program run by the Venezuelan government.

Mr. Saab's lawyers said the US charges were "politically motivated."

The US and Cape Verde have yet to make an official statement on the incident. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has called Mr. Saab's extradition a kidnapping.

According to Tuoi Tre