Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, assured on Monday that an amnesty law enacted last week would warmly welcome back Venezuelans who had previously left the country amidst the removal of Nicolas Maduro by the United States. In a televised speech, Rodriguez emphasized the country’s open doors and arms for those wishing to return as part of the healing process from past animosities.
The ongoing political and economic turmoil in Venezuela has forced seven million citizens to seek refuge abroad, with several opposition leaders residing in exile. Furthermore, the Swiss foreign ministry disclosed that over $880 million in Venezuelan assets have been frozen in Switzerland, marking the first official confirmation of the amount.
Effective January 5, a directive was put into effect to freeze the assets of former President Nicolas Maduro, including his family members and government officials. The Swiss authorities reported that financial intermediaries have frozen a total of 687 million Swiss francs in compliance with the regulation, although a detailed breakdown of ownership was not provided.
The asset freeze was described as a precautionary measure aimed at preventing capital flight and facilitating international legal cooperation between Switzerland and Venezuela. Notably, the regulation does not encompass any present Venezuelan government officials, as confirmed by the Swiss foreign ministry.