The Citgo Six is the name by which six senior executives of Citgo, detained in Venezuela, are known. Citgo is a subsidiary of the state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
Overview
The executives were arrested on November 21, 2017 and accused of signing an agreement that was "unfavorable" for the Venezuelan subsidiary.[1][2]
The executives have denied the charges against them and have stated that they are victims of a political move by the Venezuelan Maduro-led government to pressure the United States government. They were granted house arrest in December 2019, but were sent back to jail on the same day that President Donald Trump received Juan Guaidó (Maduro's opponent in the Venezuelan presidential crisis) at the White House.[2] On November 26, 2020 the executives were sentenced on corruption-related charges.[3]
On April 30, 2021 they were issued a measure of house arrest, but were transferred to El Helicoide after the extradition of Maduro-linked Colombian businessman Alex Saab in 2021, who was facing federal money laundering charges in the United States. The US government demanded the immediate release of the executives.[4]
On March 9, 2022, one of the Citgo Six was released following a meeting between US officials, including US Ambassador to Venezuela James B. Story, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.[5]
The families of the five remaining executives were a part of the Bring Our Families Home campaign which advocates to bring home wrongful detainees and hostages. Their images are featured in a 15-foot mural in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) along with other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.[6]
On October 1, 2022 the remaining five members of the Citgo Six were released following a prisoner exchange.[7]
On December 27,2023 the Citgo6 were proclamated by the Major of Houston Sylvester Turner for being exemplary members or the business community, for there moral , ethic and family values.
Also for being a great example of the American Dream , and also for the resilience, determination, strong courage and faith to survive physically and psychologically tortures , as well as brutal and extreme ordeal
Also the Major proclamated that every December 19 in the city of HOUSTON will be celebrated “THE CITGO6 DAY”
See also
- Political prisoners in Venezuela
- Narcosobrinos affair
- Matthew John Heath
- United States–Venezuela relations
References
- ^ "Venezuela: detienen por corrupción a 6 altos directivos de Citgo, la filial de PDVSA en Estados Unidos". BBC. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
- ^ a b "Venezuela: decretan arresto domiciliario para los seis exejecutivos de Citgo cuyo arresto generó tensiones con EE.UU". BBC. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
- ^ "EEUU exige liberación inmediata de los "seis de Citgo" presos en Venezuela". Tal Cual. 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
- ^ "¿Quiénes son "los 6 de Citgo" que ha detenido Maduro como venganza por la extradición de Alex Saab?". La Razón. 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
- ^ Pozzebon, Steffano (9 March 2022). "Two Americans, including one member of the 'CITGO6,' released from prison in Venezuela". CNN. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ Turner, Tasha (2022-07-22). "Ottumwa native creates art to bring awareness to American hostages, detainees". KTVO. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ^ Shear, Michael D.; Fassihi, Farnaz (1 October 2022). "American Prisoners Are Released From Venezuela and Iran". New York Times. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
External links
- EXCLUSIVE Venezuelan ministers were informed of deal 'Citgo Six' were jailed for, documents show - Reuters, 17 March 2021