The U.S. Administration has commended the role of the State of Qatar in mediating between the United States and Venezuela, a process which concluded on Wednesday with an agreement between the two nations for a prisoner swap.
CNN reported a senior official from President Joe Biden's administration saying, "We are grateful for Qatar's efforts that facilitated conversations between Venezuelan authorities and American officials, paving the way for competitive elections in 2024 and the return of unfairly detained Americans."
On Wednesday, U.S. officials announced that the United States and Venezuela had reached a deal that involves the release of 10 American prisoners in exchange for a close associate of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Biden assured in a statement that these 10 citizens "are coming home."
Earlier U.S. officials had mentioned that Washington would release businessman Alex Saab, who is accused of laundering money on behalf of Maduro.
A high-level Venezuelan source stated that President Maduro's government will release 36 individuals, including 12 Americans, in exchange for the U.S. freeing one of Maduro's allies.
This ally is reportedly Colombian businessman Alex Saab, whom U.S. prosecutors allege embezzled about $350 million from Venezuela through the United States in a scheme involving bribing Venezuelan government officials. Saab has denied this accusation.
The source continued that among those being released are 20 Venezuelans linked to the opposition detained for some time, as well as four others who either participated in the campaign of opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado or in organizing the opposition's preliminary elections held last October.
