A British judge refused to hand over nearly a billion dollars in gold to Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro on Thursday, citing that the United Kingdom does not recognize him as the country’s legitimate president.
The socialist leader has demanded access to funds currently in a British bank to help with the crippling effects of the coronavirus pandemic and US sanctions. But the UK government, which recognizes Juan Guaidó as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela, has refused to turn over funds to the Maduro administration.
Maduro is not recognized as the leader of Venezuela by more than a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, which say he was not legitimately and fairly elected in his sixth term. Guaidó declared himself interim president and reportedly took steps with the Bank of England to prevent Maduro from accessing the funds.
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“Her Majesty’s government recognizes Guaidó as interim constitutional president of Venezuela and … does not recognize Maduro as interim constitutional president of Venezuela,” said Superior Court Judge Nigel Teare.
“Whatever the basis for recognition, Her Majesty’s government has unequivocally recognized Guaidó as president of Venezuela,” Sky News reported.
Guaidó, who has no official power within Venezuela, called the ruling a “great victory.”
“The first thing is that it is protected from the clutches of the dictatorship,” said Guaidó.
The Bank of England currently owns $ 1.8 billion in Venezuelan gold. Maduro requested that approximately $ 1 billion be turned over to her administration.
The lawyer representing the Central Bank of Venezuela, Sarosh Zaiwalla, requested an appeal and said that the ruling “completely ignores the reality of the situation on the ground.”
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“Sir. The Maduro government has full control of Venezuela and its administrative institutions, and can only guarantee the distribution of humanitarian aid and medical supplies necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic,” he said in a statement. “This result now It will further delay things, to the detriment of the Venezuelan people whose lives are at risk. “
The BVC called the sentence “absurd” and said in a tweet on Thursday that “they will immediately appeal the absurd and unusual decision of an English court seeking to deprive the Venezuelan people of the gold so urgently needed to face the COVID pandemic.”
The United States and the United Kingdom have maintained diplomatic relations with Venezuela while denouncing the legitimacy of the Maduro presidency.
“The United States stands with Acting President Juan Guaido,” United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement last year. “The United States maintains diplomatic relations with Venezuela … The United States does not recognize the Maduro regime.”
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Although the United Kingdom maintains its diplomatic ties with Venezuela, they have not granted diplomatic credentials to the envoy that Guaidó assigned as ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Maduro has maintained strong relations with Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and Cuba and is recognized as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
