Juan Guaido. AP.
The U.S. State Department took custody of Venezuela’s diplomatic properties in Washington and New York on Feb. 6.
The U.S. government closed Venezuela's diplomatic mission to the U.S.
after interim president Juan Guaidó was voted out of power, leaving
Venezuela without recognized diplomatic representation in the U.S.
- The State
Department took custody of Venezuela's embassy and official residences
in Washington and New York this week, reports Bloomberg citing people
familiar with the matter.
- Fernando Blasi was serving as Venezuela's representative to the U.S. when the diplomatic properties were seized.
- Blasi
and his team were denied entry to Venezuela's diplomatic buildings
on Wednesday and given 30 days to re-arrange their immigration status,
according to sources cited by Bloomberg.
- The U.S. previously recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's rightful leader, rather than Nicolás Maduro, who effectively runs the Venezuelan government.
- Guaidó's diplomatic mission to the U.S. operated out of Venezuela's properties in New York and Washington.
- Venezuela's opposition lawmakers voted out Guaidó in December and appointed Blasi to represent the country in the U.S.
- Washington did not recognize Blasi's diplomatic status because he had not been appointed by a president.
