Washington accuses former president of obstructing a ‘main worldwide investigation into transnational crime’.
The US has blacklisted former Paraguay President Horacio Cartes for alleged involvement in “important” corruption and hyperlinks to “terrorist” teams.
The US Division of State designated Cartes and his three grownup kids for corruption on Friday, accusing him of hindering a global prison investigation. The designation triggers a US visa ban in opposition to Cartes, who served because the landlocked South American nation’s president from 2013 to 2018.
“Former President Cartes obstructed a serious worldwide investigation into transnational crime with the intention to shield himself and his prison affiliate from potential prosecution and political injury,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in an announcement.
“These actions undermined the soundness of Paraguay’s democratic establishments by contributing to public notion of corruption and impunity throughout the workplace of the Paraguayan President.”
Right this moment @StateDept designates former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes ineligible for entry to the US as a result of his acts of corruption whereas in workplace. We stand dedicated to supporting democracy and selling accountability for corrupt officers.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 22, 2022
Blinken additionally accused Cartes of “involvement with international terrorist organizations and different US-designated entities” with out naming them.
Brazil issued an arrest warrant in opposition to Cartes in 2019 over cash laundering accusations. The previous president denied the cost and stated he would make himself accessible for an investigation in Paraguay.
Cartes had lately introduced his candidacy to guide the governing Colorado Celebration, with the primaries set for December. Paraguay will maintain a presidential election subsequent 12 months, however the nation’s structure limits presidents to 1 time period in workplace.
The previous president, a enterprise tycoon, is taken into account to be one of many richest males in Paraguay.
A 2010 US embassy cable, leaked by Wikileaks in 2011, stated US companies had been investigating Cartes for an alleged “cash laundering enterprise”. Cartes, who was by no means charged with a criminal offense, has denied any wrongdoing.
“The accusations made throughout this marketing campaign haven't any fact to them, and personally I'm very serene,” Cartes stated whereas working for president in 2013.
The Trump administration praised Cartes’s authorities in 2018 for shifting the nation’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – a transfer reversed by his successor President Mario Abdo Benitez months later.
Cartes is the newest Latin American chief to face a US crackdown for alleged corruption.
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez is dealing with corruption and drug trafficking expenses in US courtroom after being extradited earlier this 12 months. He has pleaded not responsible.
On Friday, Blinken stated US Division of State designations in opposition to Cartes and his kids “reaffirm the dedication of the US to fight corruption, which harms the general public curiosity, hampers international locations’ financial prosperity, and curtails the power of governments to reply successfully to the wants of their folks”.
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