Venezuela Roundup: Secret Service & FBI raid, Expulsion of UN officials, Inflation

Secret Service raid

Officers from the FBI and the United States Secret Service carried out a raid on the residence of the Venezuelan ambassador in Washington, DC, on Thursday night. La Patilla reports that the exclusive revelation was shared by communicator and photojournalist Kyle Mazza on social networks, accompanied by several images capturing the unexpected procedure. Mazza described the intense police activity in the area, highlighting that FBI agents were equipped with bulletproof jackets and long guns during the operation. The journalist detailed that at approximately 8:50 p.m., agents shouted "surrender" after announcing their presence. As of now, the reasons behind the sudden operation at the diplomatic residence remain unclear. The residence was expected to be uninhabited since former ambassador Carlos Vecchio left his position in January 2023. The development has sparked intrigue and speculation, with the online community eagerly awaiting official statements to shed light on the motives behind the raid.

Expulsion of UN officials

Venezuela has issued an order for thirteen foreign officials of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to leave the country by Sunday. The directive also entails the suspension of the office's activities in Caracas, coming shortly after the first year of the two-year extension granted for the team's presence in Venezuela. The government has mandated that UN officials publicly rectify their perceived "colonialist, abusive, and violating attitude" towards the UN Charter within the next 72 hours, La Patilla reports. The Executive, led by President Nicolás Maduro, has announced a review of the "terms of cooperation" with the organization within 30 days. Foreign Minister Yván Gil attributed the decision to the alleged improper role of the UN Human Rights Office, accusing it of acting with bias and serving as a "private firm" for coups and terrorist groups against Venezuela. While the move is supported by the National Assembly controlled by Chavismo, it has faced widespread criticism from NGOs, activists, and opposition politicians. Various NGOs express concerns that the expulsion of UN officials will leave victims of human rights violations in a state of "total vulnerability and defenselessness."

Inflation

The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) has disclosed that inflation in the country reached 1.7% in January, marking a 0.7 point decrease compared to December 2023. This announcement reflects the fourth consecutive month of a slowdown in the increase in the prices of goods and services, EL Nacional reports. In the preceding months, the inflation rate was recorded at 2.4% in December, 3.5% in November, and 5.9% in October, according to official statistics. The January 2024 figure represents a notable decline of 40.4 points compared to the inflation recorded in January 2023, which stood at 42.1%. Subsequently, inflation fell to 19.3% in February 2023 and remained in the single digits for the remaining 10 months of the year. Among the sectors, communications experienced the highest price increase in January, with a rise of 3.7%. Education followed with a 3.5% increase, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco recorded a 3.3% increase. Additionally, health and household equipment saw prices rise by 2.6% during the same period.

Gold license suspension

The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently eased sanctions on the General Mining Company of Venezuela (Minerven) until February 13, allowing limited transactions for the settlement or closure of pending operations. This decision came as a pressure tactic following the Venezuelan justice system's confirmation of the disqualification of opposition figure María Corina Machado, who aims to contest the 2024 presidential elections against Nicolás Maduro, El Nacional reports. License No. 43, granted in October, was replaced by License 43-A, which permits transactions necessary for the settlement of operations with Minerven until 12:01 am, East Standard Time (USA), on February 13, 2024. The move signifies a temporary easing of restrictions, providing a window for specific transactions. The US has utilized sanctions as leverage against the Maduro government, and further actions may be contingent on perceived democratic gestures by Venezuela. If no such gestures are observed by April, the US has signaled the possibility of revoking permits, particularly in the oil sector, posing potential challenges for the Venezuelan economy, which has seen a slight improvement due to revenue from this industry.

Special Presidential Command

President Nicolás Maduro unveiled the establishment of the Special Presidential Command for the 1×10 Good Government initiative on Thursday. This new command will focus on three pivotal components: Bricomiles, Missions, and Great Missions, marking a significant step in advancing the government's developmental goals, Ultimas Noticias reports. "I am forming a Special Presidential Command that will take the reins of the development of a new stage of 1×10 and the Bricomiles," President Maduro declared. In the Situational Chamber of the 1X10 System of Good Government, the Head of State appointed Leonardo Montezuma as the National Head of the Presidential Special Command for the 1×10 Good Government. President Maduro tasked Montezuma with integrating social programs, missions, and great missions to ensure comprehensive solutions for the Venezuelan people. This move reflects the government's commitment to addressing critical issues and promoting development through targeted initiatives.