“The legal process is far from being over” – Dr Jose Manuel Pinto Monteiro

Alex Saab’s Defence Team wishes to condemn in the strongest possible terms the ill-informed and ignorant speculative comments coming from certain sections of the tabloid media. Whilst we appreciate that there are those who will never acknowledge that Alex Saab’s actions in delivering what has been asked of him by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on time and on budget, and that these same parties have an agenda which seeks to only show fealty to the United States, the reality is that Alex Saab is a Special Envoy of Venezuela and his detention has been declared illegal and arbitrary by respected international organisations as well as many states.

The 7 September ruling of the Cape Verde Constitutional Court represents one end of several lengthy ongoing legal processes both inside and outside of Cape Verde. “The legal process in Cape Verde is far from over. Those that are hysterically proclaiming Alex Saab’s imminent extradition should understand this before making nonsensical public statements.” commented Dr Jose Manuel Pinto Monteiro, Lead Cape Verde counsel to Alex Saab. He went on to say, “It is telling that those wishing to see Alex Saab extradited to the United States are silent when it comes to admitting that the US courts themselves are yet to determine if the US even has jurisdiction over him, as the question of his diplomatic status has yet to be ruled upon by the Court of Appeals of the 11th Circuit.”

The Defence Team points out that the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran, amongst many others, have all pointed out that Alex Saab is a Special Envoy and thus entitled to immunity and inviolability. This understanding has underpinned international law and the free movement of diplomats and political agents for centuries.

JOSÉ MANUEL PINTO MONTEIRO
Attorney

The Russian Federation in a statement issued on 12 August pointed out that the United States and Cape Verde would do well to understand that these long-standing international laws and practices are the very same that their own diplomats and political agents rely upon when travelling around the world on official business. That statement went on say that the arrest of diplomat Alex Saab, if not reversed, was setting a dangerous precedent the consequences of which would come back to haunt those involved in orchestrating and executing Alex Saab’s arrest and detention.

Praia, 24 September 2021