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Friday, 03 July_A British court has refused to return $1 billion of Venezuela’s gold reserves held in London, siding with opposition figure Juan Guaido who asked for the release to be denied.
Judge Justice Teare at the English High Court said the government in London had "unequivocally recognized" Guaido as Venezuela's president in a case that was initiated by Venezuela’s Central Bank in a bid to reclaim the gold reserves.
Teare's judgement said: "Her Majesty's Government does recognize Mr Guaido in the capacity of constitutional interim president of Venezuela and, it must follow, does not recognize Mr Maduro as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela."
The Central Bank of Venezuela wants the gold to be released from the Bank of England to help fund the nation’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
Maduro's government described the move as "absurd and extraordinary" as he called for a probe into the matter.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Maduro had "asked the Venezuelan courts to immediately open an investigation with the aim of determining the criminal responsibility of those participating in this blatant piracy of Venezuelan gold."
The Maduro-appointed central bank board lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla said Thursday's judgement "entirely ignores the reality of the situation on the ground."
"Mr Maduro's government is in complete control of Venezuela and its administrative institutions, and only it can ensure the distribution of the humanitarian relief and medical supplies needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic," he said.
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