Britain says rival Juan Goodo is 'unequally recognized' as Venezuelan president
The British government has "unequivocally" identified Nicolas Maduro, a British court ruler, with the gold bullion that Venezuela has placed in the vaults of the Bank of England.
The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) - the board appointed by Hugo Chavez's successor Maduro - has taken legal action following his request for the United Nations to issue an inquiry to help the country deal with coronaviruses. The Bank of England is the basis on which Guado was recognized by Britain.
Since ministers linked the diplomatic credentials of London's diplomats with the Maduro government - after Goodo declared himself interim president - there was no reason behind the imposition of this recognition. Caracas also has a UK ambassador to serve in the UK.
Mr. Justice Terre, a commercial court judge sitting in the High Court, said Thursday that Maduro was not eligible to make a pro-bank request. "His Majesty's government recognizes Guido in the capacity of Venezuela's constitutional interim president and should not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's constitutional interim president," he said.
"Whatever the basis of his recognition, his Majesty's government has found an unidentified guide to Venezuela's president. This is essentially his Majesty's government now recognizing Maduro as Vedo's president.
Sarosh Jaiwala, the senior partner of Zyvala & Co., representing Banco Central de Venezuela, said his client would appeal and challenge the court's decision to "completely ignore the reality of the situation on the ground."
He said the ruling would delay sending money to help the people of Venezuela. "Maduro's government is in full control of Venezuela and its governing bodies, and it can only provide humanitarian relief and medical supplies needed to combat the coronavirus epidemic."
"They have been living in Venezuela for a few years," he said, adding that none of the members of the BCV board appointed by Guado had tried to keep the gold in Britain.
In a long-running political battle for the soul of the nation, Guido elected himself interim president in January 2019, two weeks after Maduro's controversial 2018 vote. Jeremy Hunt, the then UK Secretary of State, said that a month later Britain had identified Venezuela's constitutional interim president as "a credible presidential election."
Almost 60 countries, including the US, have recognized Guida as an endorsement of Maduro and his inner circle.
At a four-day preliminary hearing in June, Nicholas Vinyl QC - representing the "Maduro Board" of the BCV, did not say that the UK government had rejected the Maduro government's disrespect for Maduro. He reported that Britain had sent an envoy to Venezuela and had received Maduro's envoys at the embassy in London.
He said that if Britain recognized Gwado as the head of state it would be "unacceptable interference in Venezuelan affairs" and "illegal under international law".
The BCV Solicitor stated that in such a case of international legal importance it is rare to consider legal questions without considering the facts on the ground and that an English Commercial Court can decide only that.
In a sign of support for Guado, Foreign Secretary Dominic Robb issued a statement Wednesday denouncing Maduro for deporting the EU ambassador with a 72-hour notice. He described the move as unjust and said it would only “deteriorate” the political, economic and human conditions in Venezuela.
"The UK reaffirms its call for a peaceful and democratic transition, including free and fair presidential elections, respect for democratically elected institutions, release of political prisoners and freedom of the press," the statement said. Said in the statement. "The Venezuelan people are no less."
The Maduro government has accused the UK of being part of a rebel group determined to overthrow democratic rule. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Araza recently called on UK Chairman Dafir Duncan Hill to "demonstrate with official opposition and seek an explanation for the construction of the Venezuelan Reconstruction Unit".
He added that the UK government should add to Venezuela the abandonment of "Washington's rebellion plans and any other possible programs".
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