Tareck El Aissami, former Venezuelan oil minister, was arrested on April 9 following accusations of corruption within PDVSA, the state-owned oil giant. Attorney General Tarek William Saab claims the ex-minister ran an “extortion media structure” to attack authorities and influence media publications. According to Saab, the journalists involved were demanding between $30,000 and $100,000 to remove or tone down publications critical of El Aissami. The objective would have been to manipulate public opinion and to slander opponents. This case echoes the measures put in place by the country to fight corruption.
Reaction of accused journalists
The journalists accused by Saab categorically deny these allegations. Edwald Scharfenberg, editor-in-chief of ArmandoInfo and one of the people cited by Mr. Saab, calls the accusations a “clumsy and malicious defamatory move.” According to Scharfenberg, their work often targeted Lopez, El Aissami and PDVSA, revealing numerous irregularities.
“Nothing is more absurd and improbable. We have written dozens of articles on Lopez, El Aissami and the irregularities of PDVSA (…) I denounce this clumsy and malicious defamatory maneuver. »
Roberto Deniz, also named in the accusations, speaks of an attempt to criminalize their investigative work.
“This is a criminalization of the work that we have been doing for years. »
ArmandoInfo journalists went into exile in 2018 after legal proceedings launched by Alex Saab, a Venezuelan government intermediary. They had uncovered irregularities in the state’s food distribution program. This event caused a violent reaction from the authorities.
The role of cryptocurrency and corruption
Also involved in terrorism cases, El Aissami is involved in a cryptocurrency oil sales network. This system was initially designed to circumvent American sanctions. However, it led to an embezzlement estimated at $17 billion. More than 60 people have been arrested in this case. Venezuela’s use of cryptocurrencies has been an attempt to resist international sanctions. But this strategy has led to abuses and the emergence of extortion and corruption networks. The government in Caracas is struggling to manage the repercussions of the scandal.
Saab’s allegations highlight Venezuela’s climate of political and economic instability. The cross-accusations between ArmandoInfo journalists and the authorities reflect a deeply polarized media landscape. The fight against corruption, combined with media transparency, remains a crucial challenge for the country’s future.
