He president of VenezuelaNicholas Ripecalled this Tuesday “thief” to his counterpart of Dominican RepublicLuis Abinaderafter the United States confiscated a plane official of the president in an operation that took place on the Caribbean island.
“They left me without planehe thief of the president of Dominican Republic(Luis) Abinaderwho is a bandit, a thief“, he pointed out Ripe in a televised event, after expressing, ironically, his desire to attend the debate presidential United States between candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
The Venezuelan president said he is “very aware” of the debate presidentialwhich is celebrated this Tuesday, and if it were not for him “they would have stolen the plane in Dominican Republic“, would Travel to the United States.
“The Dominican people will pay their bill in due time (to Abinader), don’t give me that face of “I didn’t do it,” I spoke to him a lot (…) face to face. So I can’t go to debate“I’m sorry,” he added.
Plane confiscated by the United States
On September 2nd, the Department of Justice The United States reported the confiscation of the plane official of Ripe in an operation that he carried out in Dominican Republicbased on violations of sanctions imposed on the oil-producing nation.
Through a statement, the Government United States confirmed the information previously leaked by CNN and announced the seizure of a aircraft Dassault Falcon 900EX, “property of Nicolas Ripe and persons affiliated with it in Venezuelawhich was operated in his name.”
The aircraft was seized in Dominican Republic with the assistance of the country’s authorities and transferred to Florida (USA) for having been “illegally purchased” for 13 million dollars (about 11.7 million euros) “through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Ripe and his cronies,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
According to the Department of Justice American, the aircraft It was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Ripe.
A statement from that agency said that this operation violated an executive order issued by the US in 2019 that prohibits Americans from participating in transactions with persons who have acted or intend to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of the Government of Venezuelaeven as members of the regime Ripe.
In response, the Government of Venezuela announced that it will reserve the right to take legal action to “repair” the damage caused by the confiscation of this plane.
Deterioration of relations
The relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the president of VenezuelaNicholas Ripeordered on July 29 the “immediate” withdrawal of its diplomatic representatives in the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay, following criticism from these nations of the Venezuelan electoral process held the day before.
The Venezuelan National Electoral Council awarded the victory to Nicolás Ripea result that was later validated by the Supreme Court of Justice.
On that occasion, the Venezuelan leader described as “interventionist” the statements of those countries that demanded a complete review of the voting records of the elections.
The tension between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela It was further deepened when last week the Government The United States confiscated a vehicle in Dominican territory plane which, he claims, he used Ripe to make several international Trips.
He Government Dominican declared that the delivery of the plane It was ordered by the country’s courts, following requests to that effect made by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
