“Due to the serious irregularities committed on flight TP173 and in accordance with national civil aviation regulations, the operations of the airline TAP are suspended for 90 days”, said Venezuela’s Minister of Transport, Hipólito Abreu, in the social network’s Twitter account.-
Due to the serious irregularities committed in the TP173 vehicle and in accordance with the national civil aeronautical regulations, the TAP air line operations were suspended for 90 days in our territory, as a precautionary measure to protect Venezuela’s operational security.
– Hipólito Abreu (@tupamarohipolit) February 17, 2020
An hour later, in reaction to RTP, TAP reacted, stating that “it complies with all legal and security requirements”.
The carrier stated in particular that “it does not understand the reasons for this suspension of the operation for Venezuela for 90 days, since it complies with all the legal and safety requirements demanded by the authorities both countries. ”
“This is a serious measure that harms our passengers, and the company has not even had a chance to exercise the adversary”, lamented TAP.
The accusations of the Government of President Nicolás Maduro came on February 13, the day after Guaidó returned to Venezuela after a three-week international tour.
The President of the Constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, confirmed then that the authorities had arrested Juan Guaidó’s uncle, who was part of the opposition leader’s entourage to Maduro, on arrival at Maiquetia Airport from Lisbon, on board a TAP aircraft. .
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Juan Jose Marquez was accused of terrorism for allegedly carrying explosives and bulletproof vests when he landed with the self-proclaimed President of Venezuela.
According to the Venezuelan government, Juan Marquez, Guaidó’s uncle who accompanied his nephew on that flight, carried “tactical flashlights” that hid “explosive chemicals in the battery compartment”.
Guaidó and Lisbon repudiate charges
Cabello also accused the Portuguese Government and TAP of collusion.
The Venezuelan authorities considered, in particular, that TAP, on that flight between Lisbon and Caracas, violated international safety standards, allowing explosives, and also concealed the identity of Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim President, Juan Guaidó, on the passenger list, although airport security is not the responsibility of the carriers.
The Portuguese Government, through the voice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Santos Silva, rejected the accusations of Caracas. Lisbon stressed that these make no sense.
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Last Friday, during his trip to India, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was questioned by journalists about the recent controversy with Venezuela. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stressed that the Portuguese position “is known”, defending “serenity, common sense and rationality”.
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The President of the Republic defended the dialogue and gave priority to holding presidential elections in the country that “legitimize a peaceful process of future evolution”.
The Portuguese Government nevertheless asked for an inquiry to ascertain the
veracity of the accusations involving the Portuguese air carrier, saying it had no indication of irregularities in the flight that carried Marquez and Guaidó.
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Juan Guaidó reacted with guarantees that he did not clandestinely return to Venezuela, having traveled under his own name. He also accused Nicolás Maduro’s regime of exposing itself to ridicule in the accusations it made to TAP.
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The Venezuelan opposition spoke of planted evidence and called for the immediate release of Juan José Márquez.
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