The Swiss Government announced this Monday that it has frozen the assets of Nicolás Maduro and his associates in the country with immediate effect “as a precautionary measure” and given the “volatile situation” created after the arrest of the Venezuelan president by the US Armed Forces.
The Swiss authorities pointed out in a statement that the freezing of assets will not affect any member of the current Venezuelan government.
With this decision, which will have effect for four yearsthe Executive wanted to ensure that no asset that could have been illicitly acquired is transferred outside of Switzerland in the current situation.
Swiss authorities clarified that the reasons behind Maduro’s fall or the question of whether this constituted a violation of international law did not play a decisive role in the decision to block the funds.
“The decisive factor is that there has been a fall in power and that it is now possible for the country of origin to initiate legal proceedings in relation to the illicitly acquired assets,” the authorities justified.
Switzerland adopted a federal law which contemplates the freezing of assets of “politically exposed” foreigners when there are reasons to assume that they were acquired through corruption, criminal management or other serious crimes.
Should the latter be confirmed in future judicial proceedings, “Switzerland will endeavor to ensure that they benefit the Venezuelan people.”
Switzerland recalled that, after Maduro’s arrest, it has called for de-escalation, containment and compliance with international law, “including the prohibition of the use of force and the principle of respect for territorial integrity”.
The country has “repeatedly” offered its good offices to all parties to find a peaceful solution to the political crisis in the South American country, he recalled.