CARACAS, Venezuela Associated Press —Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Friday appointed to his Cabinet a close ally who was pardoned by US President Joe Biden last year as part of a prisoner swap and following assurances that Venezuela would hold a fair presidential election in 2024. In exchange for Saab, Maduro released 10 Americans and a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who was wanted for his alleged role at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal. Last month, it responded to Venezuela’s highly disputed July presidential election by sanctioning 16 of Maduro’s allies, accusing them of obstructing the vote and carrying out human rights abuses. Saab was arrested in 2020 during a fuel stop en route to Iran to negotiate oil deals on behalf of Maduro’s government. After his arrest, Maduro’s government said Saab was a special envoy on a humanitarian mission and was entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution under international law.

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Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Joe Biden, Maduro, Alex Saab, ” Maduro, Biden, Leonard ”, Saab Organizations: Venezuela Associated Press, Saab, White House, South, US Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Cape Verde, South American, Iran