Venezuela Roundup: Gold smuggling, elections, hunger strike

Gold smuggling

The US is investigating a gold smuggling operation involving Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana, with allegations of over 10,000 kilogrammes of gold being omitted from import and export declarations. Venezuela's former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, revealed that the investigation commenced during the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration and was halted when the new administration took office in 2020. US Ambassador Nicole Theriot also added that detailed information about the investigation into several individuals was not shared due to standard protocol. US agents are concerned that the proceeds from the sale of the illegally shipped gold were financing activities against the security and interests of the United States, as reported by Loop.

G7 advocates free and fair elections in Venezuela

Chiefs of the globe's seven most robust economies convened at the distinguished resort of Borgo Egnazia on Friday, pressing the Venezuelan leadership under Nicolás Maduro to conduct transparent and equitable elections on July 28, according to Merco Press. This includes the crucial step of welcoming international monitors to oversee the electoral proceedings. Furthermore, they appealed to Caracas to refrain from intensifying tensions with Guyana concerning the resource-abundant Essequibo territory. “We are deeply concerned about the current political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and the lack of progress in the implementation of the Barbados Agreement of October 2023,” read the G7's declaration signed by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Prisoners end hunger strike

On Tuesday, June 11, President Maduro named Julio García Zerpa, a seasoned lawyer and member of the National Assembly, as the new minister for prison affairs, succeeding Viceadmiral Celsa Bautista. The appointment came in the wake of a widespread hunger strike by inmates across multiple detention centres, calling for expedited judicial processes and better conditions of confinement. The Venezuelan government, responding to the protest, has pledged to hasten legal proceedings. The strike, which began on June 9 and involved thousands of prisoners from 51 facilities in 17 states, was called off on Thursday, June 13 after the government's intervention, reports Venezuelanalysis. These facilities span both prisons and temporary holding cells within police stations, as reported by the Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP), a non-governmental organisation.

Venezuela rejects hostile attitudes of Guyana

Venezuela's Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, declared on Friday, June 14 that the nation denounces the belligerent fervour of Guyana's President, Irfaan Ali, which poses a threat to the region's serenity and peace. In a statement released on her social media account, Rodríguez likened Ali to 'the Caribbean Zelensky,' drawing a parallel with the Ukrainian leader. "Venezuela repudiates the warring zeal of Irfaan Ali, who stands as the Caribbean Zelensky by threatening the tranquillity and peace of our region to venerate its American masters and Exxon Mobil. The Esequibo is from Venezuela, so it will be forever,” said the vice president as reported by Telesur.

Elimination of Unilateral Coercive Measures

In his Thursday, June 13 speech, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called on the United Nations General Assembly to eliminate all 'unilateral coercive measures' enforced by the United States and its partners against developing countries. Addressing the assembly during a session focused on the scrutiny and disavowal of such punitive tactics, the Bolivarian envoy criticized the decade-spanning sanctions against Cuba as ineffective. He further insisted that the U.S. rescind these sanctions and exonerate Cuba from the list of nations accused of sponsoring terrorism, reports Telesur.