When I find myself down with the situation of the MUD, the supposed dialogue, and the censorship of international NGOs in Venezuela, fed up with the dictatorial circus we endure, I like to escape to… Venezuelan Elites Indulge in Polo Excess Amid National Collapse
Since 2013, Spain has been engulfed in a public scandal involving a group of Venezuelans and the censorship of a journalism professional. Why? Because Miguel Palomo-Danko (son of the famous bullfighter Palomo Linares) and his… Scandal in Spain as Derwick Money Corrupts Bullfighting and High Society
Recently, a well-known journalist who is writing a book about Chavismo reached out to me about corruption in Venezuela, asking for names, figures, responsibilities, and so on. Corruption is the big elephant in the room.… The Unseen Toll of Corruption on Venezuela’s Descent into Destitution
Official press release from BANESCO, denying claims about an alleged $50 million bribe paid by Derwick Associates to Venezuela’s Congress president, Diosdado Cabello, through BANESCO Panama. Translation of the previous paragraph: In the 15 countries… Controversies Surrounding Juan Carlos Escotet’s Rise in Banking and Allegations of Corruption
I know, I know, today is Sunday, Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom, but the things happening on Twitter with @jescotet are too good to ignore. For those who don’t know who this gentleman is:… Juan Carlos Escotet’s Troubling Twitter Rants Expose Financial Scandal and Ethical Failures of Venezuela’s Banking Elite
Dear Sirs, Humbly acknowledging my lack of knowledge about all the words that make up our rich language, I recall the first time I went to the dictionary after hearing Hugo Chavez use the term… Banesco, Davos Financial, and Derwick Associates: A Disturbing Allegation of Corruption in the Heart of Venezuelan Business
Life seems to be getting increasingly difficult for Derwick Associates. A Venezuelan news site reported two days ago that Thor Halvorssen (whom I worked with at The Human Rights Foundation in 2008-2009) has filed a… Thor Halvorssen Targets Derwick Associates in Miami Lawsuit Unveiling Alleged Bribery Links to Diosdado Cabello and Banesco
[UPDATED 26.02.2014, 17:06 GMT] We were sitting in his smoke-filled living room. A heavy smoker, he recounted an episode from his life that he would rather not relive. Painful as it was, he stated that… Brutalidad sistemática del régimen de Maduro expone la vulnerabilidad de los civiles en Venezuela
This is an important development. The governor José Vielma Mora of Táchira state, where student protests began on February 2, stated in a radio interview this morning (here’s an alternative audio source) that he opposes… Vielma Mora’s Stark Condemnation of Maduro’s Brutal Repression of Student Protests
There’s a lot of confusion. Everyone is energized by the heroism of Leopoldo López yesterday, but one question looms: what’s next? A new day in Venezuela shows an opposition movement determined, yet its leader is… Venezuelan Regime Miscalculates by Arresting Leopoldo López as Opposition Gains Momentum
Leopoldo López, one of the two most promising leaders of the Venezuelan opposition (the other being María Corina Machado), released a homemade video yesterday voicing some complaints and stating that he will go to the… Leopoldo López Forces Chavismo into a Corner with Bold Stance
The president of Venezuela recently delivered a speech in the National Assembly, where he requested special powers to supposedly “fight against corruption.” Allow me to state, without reservation, that Nicolás Maduro will irremediably fail in… Maduro’s Empty Promises in the Fight Against Corruption Expose Deeper Failures
For those of us tracking corruption in Venezuela, the Derwick Associates case is, one might say, unique. It’s hard to find similar instances, and coming from a country where corruption is ingrained in its culture,… Otto Reich Exposes Alleged Corruption of Derwick Associates in High-Stakes Legal Battle
Yesterday, Fanny Kertzman and I published an article in the magazine Semana regarding the internal political dynamics of chavismo: When Hugo Chávez faced the imminent possibility of his death, he carefully analyzed with his brothers Fidel and… Diosdado Cabello’s Rising Threat to Cuba’s Hold on Venezuela’s Leadership
Diosdado Cabello holds the keys to Venezuela’s future. Not Nicolás Maduro, nor his Cuban handlers. Not Henrique Capriles or Rafael Ramírez. Not the criminal enterprises that support chavismo. Definitely not the electoral authorities (CNE), who… Diosdado Cabello’s Control Over Venezuela Exposes Maduro’s Weakness