The Switzerland’s Government through the Federal Council has decided to freeze any assets held in its country by the Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro and other persons associated with him with immediate effect.
According to the statement released by the Swiss Govt on Monday revealed that this asset freeze is in addition to the sanctions placed against Venezuela that have been in place since 2018 under the Embargo Act.
While in doing so, the Swiss Govt aimed to prevent outflow of assets, disclosing that the asset freeze does not affect members of the current Venezuelan government.
“Should future legal proceedings reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavour to ensure that they benefit the Venezuelan people”, the Government said.
Recalled that on 3 January 2026, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was arrested by United States forces in Caracas and flown to their country as Swiss Govt said this situation is volatile, and several scenarios are possible in the coming days and weeks.
Switzerland is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela. It has called for de-escalation, restraint and compliance with international law, including the prohibition of the use of force and the principle of respect for territorial integrity. 
It added that Switzerland has also repeatedly offered its good offices to all sides in order to find a peaceful solution to the situation.
It explained that this decision is to ensure that any illicitly acquired assets cannot be transferred out of Switzerland in the current situation while assured that the asset freeze does not affect members of the current Venezuelan government.
Under the Federal Act on the Freezing and the Restitution of Illicit Assets Held by Foreign Politically Exposed Persons (FIAA), it has therefore decided, as a precautionary measure, to freeze any assets held in Switzerland by Mr Maduro and other persons associated with him. 
This asset freeze issued in accordance with the FIAA is in addition to the existing sanctions against Venezuela under the Embargo Act, which have been in force since 2018 and also include asset freezes.
The new asset freezes under the FIAA target individuals who’ve not previously been sanctioned in Switzerland. The reasons behind Mr Maduro’s fall from power do not play a decisive role in asset freezes under the FIAA.
Nor does the question of whether the fall from power occurred lawfully or violation of international law and decisive factor is that a fall from power occurred and that it is now possible that the country of origin will initiate legal proceedings in the future with regard to illicitly acquired assets.
It concluded that the asset freeze serves enable future mutual legal assistance proceedings. Should these reveal that the funds were illicitly acquired, Switzerland will endeavour to use them for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.
