Nicolás Maduro, the authoritarian leader of Venezuela, successfully negotiated the release of a crucial ally from US detention by agreeing to free 10 American and 20 Venezuelan prisoners from incarceration.
In 2021, Alex Saab, a businessman from Colombia and ally of Maduro, was extradited to the US after being arrested in Cape Verde while traveling. He had been accused by US prosecutors of stealing large sums of money from social programs in Venezuela through a complex money-laundering operation.
However, on Thursday, Saab, who is 51 years old and has denied the allegations, unexpectedly returned to Caracas after reaching a deal with the United States.
The Venezuelan government, under Maduro’s leadership, released a statement celebrating the return of their diplomat Alex Saab, who had been unfairly imprisoned in the United States.
State TV in Venezuela showed the arrival of Saab at Maiquetía airport, where he was greeted by the first lady, Cilia Flores, his family, and other important Chavistas including Jorge Rodríguez. The president of Telesur, Patricia Villegas, was also present and provided coverage from the ramp. She expressed excitement as Saab stepped out of a private jet, calling it a significant moment.
Shortly after in a televised speech, Maduro appeared alongside Saab at the Miraflores presidential palace and expressed gratitude to the government of Qatar for their role as a successful mediator in the negotiations that resulted in the agreement. “Alex, you have arrived in a land of freedom and dignity,” Maduro stated to his visitor.
“Life is a constant miracle and today the miracle of freedom, the miracle of justice, has become a reality. Thank you, Mr President, for your perseverance,” Saab replied. “Thank you people of Venezuela – I feel proud to serve the people of Venezuela and to serve this government. A humane and loyal government that does not abandon [people].”
The American leader, Joe Biden, announced that 10 American individuals, six of whom were deemed to have been unjustly imprisoned, were being repatriated as part of the deal. The four prisoners who were released were identified as Joseph Cristella, Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, and Savoi Wright.
44-year-old lawyer and advocate for criminal justice, Hernandez, was taken into custody near the border of Colombia and Venezuela in March. He was charged with “criminal association” and “conspiracy”, which his family denied. After news of his release, his colleague Garrett Miller, the president of the public defenders union, expressed excitement and stated that Hernandez is a dedicated advocate for their clients who has been greatly missed.
Biden urged American citizens to refrain from traveling to Venezuela. He expressed sympathy for those who have been separated from their families and acknowledged the hardship they have endured. He also expressed gratitude that their difficult situation has come to an end and that their families can finally be reunited.
A high-ranking member of the US government stated, “This agreement is the result of exceptional dedication and persistence from various departments within the US government over a long period of time.”
The agreement also involved the extradition and apprehension of an escaped individual named Leonard Francis who escaped to Venezuela through Mexico and Cuba in the previous year by removing his electronic monitoring device. He was involved in what was referred to by Biden as a “bold case of bribery and corruption”. In a 2016 report on the scandal known as the “Fat Leonard scandal”, the Washington Post stated: “In what could be considered the most significant national security breach of its kind since the end of the Cold War, Francis provided sexual favors and financial incentives to an alarming number of military personnel who shared classified information with him about the movements of US warships and submarines.”
The release of prisoners was deemed a success by Luis Vicente León, a political analyst and head of the polling firm Datanalisis in Caracas, for the leaders of both nations.
Biden’s successful release of American hostages to their families before Christmas, without any use of force, was a significant achievement. Maduro also saw it as a victory, as it showcased his commitment to standing by his people and brought together the Chavismo movement in support of him.
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According to León, the biggest danger to Maduro’s Chavismo movement and its Bolivarian revolution was not from outside forces or political adversaries, but rather an internal “collapse”. By releasing Saab, Maduro was able to show that he alone could maintain unity within the movement and that he would stand by his allies no matter what.
The exchange of prisoners occurs as part of a larger improvement in relations between the United States and Caracas. This follows a tumultuous period, highlighted by the 2019 effort to overthrow Maduro and replace him with Juan Guaidó, a young congressman. However, Guaidó’s attempt at inciting a rebellion was unsuccessful and he ultimately fled to the US in April. In his place, conservative opposition leader María Corina Machado has emerged as Maduro’s primary opponent.
Machado aims to run against Maduro in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The US is also hoping that their discussions with Venezuela’s current leaders, which have involved easing sanctions, will lead to a fair and open competition.
The senior administration official acknowledged that Biden’s choice to pardon Saab was not an easy one. However, the outcome of this difficult decision will be the reunion of parents with their children and grandchildren, as well as their extended family and friends.
The opposition in Venezuela rejoiced over the freedom of key individuals as per the agreement. Among them was Roberto Abdul, who played a crucial role in coordinating the recent opposition primary for the upcoming election. He was previously detained on charges of treason.
However, there was also outrage surrounding the freeing of Saab, a deeply divisive individual who was once referred to as “one of the most despised men in Venezuela” by a local journalist. A book published in 2021 detailing Saab’s life is titled: Alex Saab: The Untold Story of the Businessman Who Rose to Riches in the Shadow of Nicolás Maduro.
In his article on X, Marshall Billingslea, a former US treasury official under the Trump administration who led the investigation on Saab, expressed his disappointment with the decision, stating that it greatly undermines the US’s reputation in combating corruption, especially in Latin America.
Billingslea expressed his disappointment, stating that it is a devastating blow to the Venezuelan opposition. He condemned Saab as a despicable individual who profits off of hunger and serves as a messenger for Maduro. Billingslea also noted that despite claiming to be allies, they allowed one of the most notorious thieves in Boligarch history to go unpunished.
Source: theguardian.com
