International Diplomatic Rules Tested in Alex Saab Case

The Alex Saab case highlights changing international norms regarding diplomatic immunity, as the U.S. government has decided not to recognize his professed immunity, despite being designated a special envoy by the Venezuelan government.

L. Todd Wood

New Thinking | May 04, 2023

As war continues to rage in Ukraine and conflict in the Pacific cannot be ruled out, it is obvious that our geopolitical institutions are being tested. Many wise men have asked in recent years—where are the diplomats during times of war? The case of Alex Saab is a perfect example of changing international norms, as the U.S. government has made a decision not to recognize professed diplomatic immunity in the case.

Saab was designated a diplomatic special envoy by the Venezuelan government to travel to Iran to discuss a series of commercial transactions. While en route to Iran, his aircraft stopped for fuel in Cape Verde. There, Saab was detained and extradited to the United States to stand trial on one federal count. Many current and former members of diplomatic circles believe Saab was entitled to diplomatic immunity as a designated Venezuelan special envoy, no matter his lack of a diplomatic passport, the stop in a third-party country, or the commercial nature of his travel.

The Book ‘Letters of Alex Saab from Kidnapping’ to be Given for Free to FILVEN 2021 Attendees (+ Pro-Saab Street Mobilizations Throughout North America Scheduled for Monday)

Orinoco Tribune | November 14, 2021

The book Letters of Alex Saab from Kidnapping, which describes Saab’s torture and plight during his illegal detention in Cape Verde, as well as his love for the people of Venezuela and support for its government, will be given away to attendees this Sunday, November 14, at the International Book Fair of Venezuela (FILVEN). The book fair is being held in Caracas, at the Federal Legislative Palace, which is the headquarters of the National Assembly of Venezuela.

As part of the programed activities for FILVEN 2021, Alex Saab’s wife, Camilla Fabri, will attend a press conference scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m (Caracas time) on November 14.

In Letters of Alex Saab from Kidnapping, readers will find the personal letters written by Saab in his role as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Venezuela to the African Union.

Mapping of the Main Violations of International Law Directly or Indirectly Attributable to the United States of America in the Context of the Arrest and Arbitrary Detention of Alex Saab in Cape Verde

Read full document here: https://mcusercontent.com/0db257d47828d9d6c69e7c29a/files/1f95a4a8-cb5c-41e1-6dc4-decc5b3f0c1f/Mapping_Violations_by_the_USA_31.10.2021_FF_English_V.pdf

[THIS IS POSTED HERE FOR NON-PROFIT, NON-COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE.]

Venezuela Denounces Violations in US Case Against Alex Saab

teleSUR | November 02, 2021

Alex Saab, a victim of the U.S. empire, continues to advocate for his defense. | Photo: Twitter/@Angei476

The defense of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab today denounced the multiple violations of international law in the process brought against him by the U.S. government.

In a press release, the jurists stated that all the irregularities presented since the arbitrary detention of the ambassador on June 12, 2020, are “the result of a joint interstate and illegal operation” between Washington and Cape Verde, under the guise of a judicial cooperation procedure.

The team of defense lawyers recalled Alex Saab’s status as Venezuela’s special envoy and its deputy permanent representative to the African Union. He remained in arbitrary detention until October 16, 2021, when he was illegally transferred to Miami.

Why are most charges against Alex Saab dropped?

Laila Tajeldine

Últimas Noticias | November 02, 2021

A scandal that has no similar precedents is the one executed on October 16, 2021 by the United States Government, who in its desperation to overthrow the legitimately constituted government in Venezuela, dared to kidnap the Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab Morán, clearly identified with diplomatic passport no. 045778720, accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as “Special Envoy” of Venezuela since April 9, 2018, accreditation that automatically grants diplomatic immunity as established by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations regarding to the inviolability of the figure of the Special Envoy (arts. 14, 29 and 40).

The truth is that once they identify from the United States the role that Alex Saab played in the projects that allowed the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to avoid sanctions, importing food, medicine and other products into the country, a persecution against the diplomat and in July 2019, Saab being Special Envoy, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury, imposed sanctions on Saab and several financial entities to block the commercial activity of importing food and medicines to Venezuela .

COERCION, KIDNAPPING AND LEGAL MALFEASANCE: THE ILLICIT ROUTE OF THE ALEX SAAB CASE

WWW.MISIONVERDAD.COM | October 17, 2021

Foto: Nurphoto / Getty Images

In multiple venues, including meetings that, within the framework of the dialogue process taking place in Mexico, the government of the Bolivarian Republic demanded the immediate and full release of Alex Naín Saab Morán. To this is added a long list of diplomatic communiqués, as well as foreign statements demanding his release.

However, in spite of his diplomatic status and the complaints about non-compliance with due process, on October 16, 2021, it was made public that Saab was extradited to the United States by the government of Cape Verde.

Alex Saab denounces illegalities in his detention in Cape Verde

Últimas Noticias | July 26, 2021

Through a letter made public, the Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, imprisoned in Cape Verde for more than a year for an extradition request from the United States government, denounced once again the illegality of his detention this Monday: In the letter appreciates the expressions of support received from the Cape Verdean people.

According to the Telesur web portal, Saab presented his case to the citizens of the African country and denounced that he had been kidnapped in that nation “under the instructions of the United States.”

Saab described that the humanitarian mission that, on behalf of the Venezuelan State, he has been carrying out since 2018, with a view to overcoming “the vicious and immoral economic blockade unilaterally imposed by the United States,” was entrusted to him by the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro.

UN Human Rights Committee: Suspend the extradition of Ambassador Alex Saab

The United Nations Human Rights Committee orders Cape Verde to
immediately suspend the extradition of Ambassador Alex Saab to the United States of America

8 June 2021

In a decision on interim measures dated June 8, 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Committee calls on Cape Verde to ‘refrain from extraditing Mr. Alex Saab to the United States of America” and to “take all necessary measures to ensure access to appropriate health care […] by independent and specialized physicians of his choice”.

This decision ordering interim measures is the first urgent step resulting from the registration of a complaint filed by Alex Saab with the prestigious United Nations Human Rights Committee, a body composed of 18 independent experts.

In the petition, that is receiving the Committee’s full attention, Ambassador Alex Saab claims to be victim of acts of torture and ill-treatment at the time of the arrest and in detention by State agents; inhumane and degrading conditions of the detention due to the lack of medical care given his health condition as a cancer patient suffering numerous pathologies that require urgent medical care; the risk of being tortured and ill-treated in case of extradition
and to be exposed to further violations of his rights if extradited; the denial of his right to be informed of consular rights; and the arbitrary nature of his detention.