Alex Saab, Sanctions and the Extra-Judicial Reach of the US

Guest: John Philpot, senior criminal litigation attorney. A
member of the Barreau du Québec since 1984, he has
practiced Criminal Law in Montreal since 1984 and International
Criminal Law since 1998.


From “Alex Saab vs. Empire: How the US is Using Lawfare to
Punish a Venezuelan Diplomat” By Roger Harris of broadcast
partner Task Force on the Americas (MintPress May 24, 2021):


“Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union for Venezuela
Alex Saab was on a humanitarian mission flying from Caracas to
Iran to procure food and gasoline for the Venezuelan CLAP food
assistance program. Saab was detained on a refueling stop in the
African nation of Cabo Verde and has been held in custody ever
since June 12, 2020.


Saab’s “crime” — according to the U.S. government, which ordered
the imprisonment — was money laundering. That is, Saab conducted
perfectly legal international trade. Still, his circumventing of
the U.S. sanctions – which are designed to prevent relief to the
Venezuelans – is considered by Washington to be money laundering.


After a two-year investigation into Saab’s transactions with
Swiss banks, the Swiss government concluded on March 25 that
there was no money laundering. Saab is being prosecuted because
he is serving his country’s interest rather than that of the U.S.
Saab was born in Colombia but now holds Venezuelan
citizenship. The U.S. does not recognize Saab’s diplomatic
status.”


Joining us this episode to discuss this case of Extra-Judicial
Reach of the United States and to provide an update on the Alex
Saab case is John Philpot. John is an experienced
international defense attorney before international criminal
courts (ICC, ICTR) and in Canada. He has been active in Africa,
Latin America and Europe as well as in Canada.


Links referenced in this episode:


Registration for the Meng conference 22 September


http://hamiltoncoalitiontostopthewar.ca/event-release-meng/


An ongoing international appeal of over 15,000 signatures, sent
to the US president and the president and prime minister of Cabo
Verde: 


https://solidaritycenter.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=23&reset=1


An archive of articles, statements and reference materials on the
developing case: 


https://afgj.org/free-alex-saab


May 19 webinar panel featuring two of Saab’s lawyers, Cabo
Verde’s Geraldo da Cruz Almeida and Nigeria’s Femi Falana, in
addition to activists William Camacaro, John Philpot, Stanfield
Smith and Sara Flounders: 


https://youtu.be/TZXfO0dZXiQ


August 10 webinar hosted by Massachusetts Peace Action: 


https://youtu.be/dAjgIvhOrvQ


Social media campaign to #FreeAlexSaab:


https://afgj.org/urgent-call-alex-saab-social-media-campaign


We Don't Deserve This: the impact and consequences of US sanction


https://sanctionskill.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SanctionsReport_v1.pdf