A court in Switzerland has rejected giving a residency permit to a former vice-president of Venezuela, Nervis Villalobos Cárdenas, and his family.
The presence of the former energy minister under Hugo Chávez was deemed a threat to public security and a risk for Switzerland’s reputation, according to a verdict by the Federal Administrative CourtExternal link.
The ruling, announced on Wednesday, confirms a decision by the State Secretariat for Immigration and the Federal Police Office, but it goes against the authorities of canton Geneva dating back to 2016.
The appeal was launched by the wife and son of Villalobos nearly two years ago, according to the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA.
Villalobos was arrested in Spain and extradited to the United States in 2017 amid criminal investigations into suspected corruption and money laundering in several countries.
The latest ruling in Switzerland is final and can’t be appealed.
More
More
Paper: billions of Venezuelan ‘suspicious funds’ in Swiss banks
This content was published on
Swiss officials have found around CHF9 billion ($10 billion) linked to Venezuela on hundreds of bank accounts in Switzerland, Le Matin Dimanche says.
Thieves steal precious metals from Swiss watchmaker
This content was published on
Thieves raided the factory of the Swiss watch supplier Werthanor in Le Locle in northeastern Switzerland on Thursday morning. They fled across the border to France with precious metals.
Swiss court confirms guilty verdicts against Hells Angels and Bandidos bikers
This content was published on
Bern's High Court on Thursday confirmed guilty verdicts against six Hells Angels and Bandidos bikers involved in a violent clash outside the Swiss capital in 2019.
China rejects report on Tibetans and Uyghurs in Switzerland
This content was published on
The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday rejected a Swiss government report suggesting that China has been cracking down on Tibetans and Uighurs living in Switzerland.
Fleur Jaeggy wins 2025 Grand Prix for Swiss Literature award
This content was published on
Zurich-born writer Fleur Jaeggy is the 2025 winner of the Grand Prix for Swiss Literature, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) announced on Thursday.
USAID funding: Swiss aid groups urge foreign minister to act
This content was published on
Swiss aid agencies and churches have urged Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis to take action following the freeze to funds disbursed by USAID.
Switzerland to clamp down on foreign visitors’ unpaid parking fines
This content was published on
The Swiss government has agreed to crack down on parking fines and other driving-related penalties handed out to foreign visitors that go unpaid.
Streaming continues to drive Swiss music market growth
This content was published on
The Swiss music market generated sales of CHF249 million ($274 million) in 2024, up 7% on the previous year, with streaming driving most of the growth.
Migros sells Hotelplan tour operator to Germany’s Dertour
This content was published on
The Swiss retailer Migros is selling most of the Hotelplan Group to the German tour operator Dertour. Meanwhile the Hotelplan subsidiary Interhome has been sold to Hometogo.
This content was published on
The flu epidemic in Switzerland is easing. The number of reported cases fell last week, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). But the wave may not yet have reached its peak.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Paper: billions of Venezuelan ‘suspicious funds’ in Swiss banks
This content was published on
Swiss officials have found around CHF9 billion ($10 billion) linked to Venezuela on hundreds of bank accounts in Switzerland, Le Matin Dimanche says.
Switzerland deplores the shrinking of democracy in Venezuela
This content was published on
At Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Swiss have called on Venezuela to establish ‘free and fair conditions’ for the December legislative elections.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.