Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stated in a televised speech on Sunday evening that the delivery of businessman Alex Saab, considered an important intermediary for Caracas, to the United States is "one of the most horrific injustices of recent decades." Maduro remarked, "It is one of the most horrific forms of injustice committed in recent decades," emphasizing that "Venezuela is working at the United Nations in New York, and in Geneva with human rights organizations. We are working at all levels."
Maduro presented his narrative of what he described as the "kidnapping" of Saab, saying, "A plane arrived. Thugs got off and searched for him and took him away by hitting him, without notifying his lawyer or family or anyone else." Businessman Alex Saab, who is close to the Venezuelan government and was handed over by Cape Verde to the United States on Saturday, stated in a message read by his wife during a public gathering in Caracas that he "will not cooperate with U.S. authorities" but "will face his trial with dignity."
During a demonstration in support of her husband organized by Venezuelan authorities, which included about 300 people, Camila Fabri, while crying, read the message which stated, "I will face my trial with complete dignity (...) I want to be clear: I am not obliged to cooperate with the United States. I have not committed any crime." Saab, deemed an important intermediary for the Venezuelan government, is expected to attend "his first court session on Monday" in a Florida court, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Saab added in his message, "I declare that I am of sound mind, and I will not commit suicide, in case they assassinate me to later claim that I did commit suicide." Journalist Roberto Diniz, who specializes in this case, noted, "Saab may reveal details about arrangements and the circulation of money and inflated costs... He was the cornerstone of Maduro's regime dealings with allied countries."
Fabri discussed her husband's delivery to the United States, saying, "Everything was done behind the backs of the lawyers and us." The mother of two girls described the actions of the Cape Verde and U.S. authorities as "cowardly." She added, "What bothers the U.S. most is that my husband will never bow down! He has the power of truth and innocence."
Saab and his partner Álvaro Pulido, also accused of money laundering, are suspected of having transferred $350 million from Venezuela to foreign accounts they own or control. The two men face prison sentences of up to 20 years. Saab was arrested on money laundering charges in July 2019 in Miami when his plane stopped in Cape Verde for refueling in mid-June 2020. He had been waiting for over a year for the judiciary in the archipelago to decide his fate.
Venezuela reacted angrily to Saab's delivery and suspended talks with the U.S.-backed opposition in Mexico. In a statement, Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, who heads the Venezuelan government's delegation to the dialogue with the opposition, announced, "Our delegation is announcing the suspension of its participation in the negotiation and dialogue table." He added, "We will not attend the (fourth) round that was set to begin tomorrow, October 17, in protest against the brutal assault (...) on Alex Saab." Caracas had hoped Saab would be part of the government delegation in negotiations aimed at resolving the political and economic crisis in the country.
