Britain recognises Juan Guaido as president of Venezuela after dispute over gold
Britain has recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's president, the English High Court has ruled, in a case over whether Mr Guaido or Nicolas Maduro should control $1 billion of its gold stored in London.
The case was brought by the Banco Central de Venezuela to release $1 billion of gold reserves to help fund the cash-strapped country's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Bank of England said it was unable to act on instructions because it was "caught in the middle" of competing claims for the presidency after disputed elections in 2018.
A BCV board appointed by the government of Nicolas Maduro wants the gold released while a rival ad hoc board appointed by Mr Guaido asked for the release to be denied.
Commercial Court judge Nigel Teare, sitting at the High Court of England and Wales, was asked to rule on who was authorised to make the demand - Mr Guaido or Mr Maduro.
In his judgement, he said: "Her Majesty's Government does recognise Mr Guaido in the capacity of constitutional interim president of Venezuela and, it must follow, does not recognise Mr Maduro as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela."
Mr Teare added that it was impossible to recognise both men as president.
Mr Guaido has refused to accept the results of the 2018 elections, calling them flawed, and insists that he is interim president pending a fresh vote.
Some 60 countries have since recognised him as Venezuela's true leader, including the United States, which has imposed sanctions on Maduro and his inner circle.
Mr Maduro succeeded Hugo Chavez after his death in 2013. He has ruled with an iron first but presided over the economic collapse of the oil-rich country.
Andrew Fulton, representing the “Guaido board” of the BCV, said the British Government “has decided to recognise Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela and has denounced the 'illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime”'.
Sarosh Zaiwalla, representing the Maduro-appointed BCV, said his clients would apply for an appeal.
They considered the judgement "entirely ignores the reality of the situation on the ground," MR Zaiwalla said.
"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.
He added: "This outcome will now delay matters further, to the detriment of the Venezuelan people, whose lives are at risk."
