In a press release, the lawyers stated that all the irregularities presented since the arbitrary detention of the ambassador on June 12, 2020, are “the result of a joint interstate and illegal operation” between Washington and Cape Verde, under the appearance of a judicial cooperation procedure.

The team of defense lawyers recalled Alex Saab’s status as Venezuela’s special envoy and also its deputy permanent representative to the African Union, despite which he remained in arbitrary detention until October 16, 2021, when he was illegally transferred to Miami.

The lawyers further noted that the Venezuelan diplomat’s arrest was orchestrated while he was on a special humanitarian mission to Iran, crucial to the interests of the South American nation that would likely offer solutions to combat the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures.

“This cannot reasonably be regarded as a coincidence and (…) encompasses several violations of international law, including the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, non-intervention in the internal affairs of states, and peaceful settlement of international disputes,” the defense stated. Alex Saab’s detention also involved abuse of Interpol’s Red Notice Mechanism, violation of the official’s diplomatic immunity, and systematic violations of human rights norms during his captivity, the experts said.

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