Caracas has opened a criminal investigation against Argentine President Javier Milei for handing over a seized Venezuelan cargo plane to the United States.
The dispute between the two South American countries revolves around Emtrasur Cargo's Boeing 747-300FM, which was initially purchased from Iran's Mahan Air. In August 2022, Argentine authorities seized the aircraft at the request of the United States. Washington had previously blacklisted Mahan Air as part of export restrictions imposed on Iran.
Venezuela has long protested the detention of the aircraft, arguing that Argentina violated international law, and has demanded compensation. In March 2024, Caracas closed its airspace to flights to and from Argentina.
Announcing the investigation on Wednesday, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab said he had appointed two prosecutors to prosecute arrest warrants for Milei, his sister Karina Milei, who heads the president's office, and Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich.
He added that the actions of the Argentine leadership constitute seven different crimes under Venezuelan law, including: “aggravated robbery” and money laundering. According to Saab, “A competent court here in Venezuela” He would soon rule on the arrest warrants.
In 2024, the seized aircraft was “illegally” transferred to the US, where he was “completely dismantled”, which “they outraged the Venezuelan nation,” You can do it.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry issued a statement “repudiating” The arrest warrants. He argued that the handover of the plane had been authorized by the Argentine judicial system in accordance with a bilateral treaty with Washington. “The judiciary is an independent power, in which the government cannot and should not interfere in any way,” The statement reads.
Milei, a self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist, became president of Argentina in 2023 and has promised “strengthening the strategic alliance” with the US
He recently asked the International Criminal Court to order the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he has described as “dictator” aand accused of human rights abuses. Maduro has called Milei “a right-wing extremist” and accused him of “kneeling before US imperialism.”
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