Venezuela Supreme Court orders comprehensive review of Red Cross leadership following allegations

The Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) issued a directive on Friday, Aug. 4, to immediately replace the country’s national executive committee of the Red Cross.

The ruling called for a special restructuring council to be chaired by Ricardo Cusanno, former president of Fedecámaras, Venezuela’s industrial federation.

The court decreed that Cusanno must nominate council members within the next seven business days.

He is also required to assist the Attorney General in investigating and prosecuting potential criminal cases against the ousted executive committee.

This comes in response to a video posted by Miguel Villarroel, vice-president of the Venezuelan Red Cross, pleading for non-interference from the Nicolas Maduro-led government in the institution’s work.

Villarroel’s appeal came as a reaction to legal proceedings initiated against the organization by Tarek William Saab, the Venezuelan Prosecutor General.

These proceedings, following allegations of “alleged harassment and mistreatment” by the Red Cross president Mario Villarroel against his staff and volunteers, resulted in the TSJ’s decision.

The TSJ’s ruling grants extensive powers to Cusanno, including maintaining Red Cross services, protecting its assets, revising current regulations, and calling for internal elections for a new leadership via a participatory and democratic process to ensure the smooth operation of the institution.

Similar measures have been witnessed in other Latin American countries under autocratic rule.

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