Venezuelan opposition begins seizing diplomatic property in the United States
Supporters of Venezuelan pro-American opposition leader Juan Guaido seized three of the country's diplomatic facilities in Washington and New York. They claim that these steps are being taken allegedly in order to preserve the assets of Venezuelans in the United States, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
It is reported by Reuters.
According to the report, Guaido’s “appointed” ambassador to the United States, Carlos Vecchio, announced that the opposition had taken control of Venezuela’s diplomatic institutions in the United States.
“The opposition has taken control of two buildings that belong to the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense in Washington and one consular building in New York,” Vecchio said.
He added that Guaido's representatives expect to seize the Venezuelan embassy in Washington in the coming days.
He said that according to his data, out of 55 employees, 12 decided to remain in the United States and support Guaido. Guaidó's spokesman added that his staff would work out of the diplomatic mission building, located in the upscale Kalorama neighborhood and valued at $2,2 million, according to Washington real estate records.
In turn, US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters that the United States was happy to support these requests.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the US authorities to take the necessary measures to immediately end this violent takeover of its diplomatic missions. The department noted that the transfer of ownership violated international law on the protection of diplomatic property.
Venezuelan opposition begins seizing diplomatic property in the US