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Case details

Maduro Board of the Central Bank of Venezuela (Respondent/Cross-Appellant) v Guaidó Board" of the Central Bank of Venezuela (Appellant/Cross-Respondent)

Case ID: 2020/0195

Case summary

Issue

Whether the UK Government has recognised Interim President Guaido as Head of State of Venezuela and, if so, whether any challenge to the validity of Mr Guaido’s appointments to the Board of the Central Bank of Venezuela is justiciable in an English court.

Facts

Mr Maduro was re-elected President of Venezuela in May 2018. Mr Guaido is the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela. Mr Guaido claims that the May 2018 election was flawed and that he is Interim President of Venezuela.
Both parties have appointed different Boards to the Central Bank of Venezuela. These Boards have issued conflicting instructions concerning nearly US$1 billon of Venezuela’s international reserves, held in the Bank of England’s vaults, and approximately US$120 million held by court-appointed receivers on behalf of the Central Bank of Venezuela, following a payment from Deutsche Bank under a swap contract.
The High Court ordered a trial to determine whether the Guaido Board or the Maduro Board had control over the disputed sums. The High Court found for the Guaido Board. The Maduro Board successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal. The Guaido Board now appeals to the Supreme Court.

Judgment appealed

[2020] EWCA Civ 1249

Parties

Appellant(s)

"Guaidó Board" of the Central Bank of Venezuela

Respondent(s)

"Maduro Board" of the Central Bank of Venezuela

Appeal

Justices

Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Hamblen, Lord Leggatt

Hearing start date

19 July 2021

Hearing finish date

22 July 2021

Watch hearing
19 Jul 2021 Morning session Afternoon session
20 Jul 2021 Morning session Afternoon session
21 Jul 2021 Morning session Afternoon session
 

Judgment details

Judgment date

20 December 2021

Neutral citation

[2021] UKSC 57

 
Watch Judgment summary
20 Dec 2021 Judgment summary