Paraguay: On 12 August the US State Department announced it was designating Paraguay’s Vice President
Hugo Velázquez and
Juan Carlos “Charly” Duarte, an associate and lawyer for the joint Paraguayan-Brazilian Itaipú hydroelectric complex, for involvement in significant corruption, including bribery of a public official and interference in public processes. According to the US State Department, Duarte, a close personal and professional associate of Velázquez, “
offered a bribe to a Paraguayan public official in order to obstruct an investigation that threatened the Vice President and his financial interests”. The US State Department adds that as part of this action, it is also designating Velázquez’s immediate family members, including
Lourdes Maria Andrea Samaniego González, Dionicio Adalberto Velázquez Gimenez, Sonya Rebeca Velázquez Escauriza and
Hugo José Velázquez Escauriza; and Duarte’s immediate family members including
Ninfa Concepción, Vera Moreira and
Tamara Duarte Martínez. The US’s action follows its designation announced on 22 July of Paraguay’s former president
Horacio Cartes (2013-2018) for his alleged involvement in significant corruption.
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