Venezuela sold 73 tonnes of gold to Turkey, #UAE last year: legislator | Reuters

Venezuela sold 73 tonnes of gold to Turkey, UAE last year: legislator | Reuters:

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government last year sold 73 tonnes of gold to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates without the required approval of the opposition-led National Assembly, an opposition legislator said on Wednesday.

Of that total, Abu Dhabi investment firm Noor Capital bought the largest amount, 27.3 tonnes of gold, opposition legislator Carlos Paparoni told a news conference, without providing evidence. Paparoni also said a Turkish firm bought 23.9 tonnes of gold last year.

Venezuela’s opposition, led by National Assembly leader Juan Guaido, has sought to prevent the gold sales, believing Maduro’s government is using the proceeds to try to stay solvent as U.S.-imposed sanctions cut off other revenue streams. The United States and numerous other countries have recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s interim leader in the aftermath of Maduro’s re-election last year in a vote critics have called a sham.