Politics

Switzerland has taken steps to freeze assets owned by Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and his associates, as announced by the Federal Council on Monday. This decision follows Maduro's recent arrest by U.S. forces in Caracas and his subsequent transfer to the United States. The asset freeze is effective immediately and will last for four years. It aims to stop any possible movement of illicit assets and adds to the sanctions already in place against Venezuela since 2018. According to the statement, this freeze does not impact current members of the Venezuelan government. Switzerland plans to return any funds deemed to have been obtained illegally to benefit the people of Venezuela. The Federal Council noted that the situation in Venezuela is unstable, with many possible developments in the near future. They are monitoring the situation closely and have called for calm and restraint while offering their assistance in seeking a peaceful resolution. The Federal Council emphasized the importance of ensuring that no illicit assets can be moved out of Switzerland during this time. This asset freeze is a precautionary measure and applies to Maduro and his associates, classified as foreign politically exposed persons. No specific amounts were mentioned, and the government did not respond immediately to inquiries about the assets Maduro and his associates may have in Switzerland.