FILE - In this March 12, 2020 file photo, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela. The political battle over control of Venezuela has turned to a $1 .8 billion stack of gold bars sitting in the Bank of England's vault in London, where a judge is expected to decide soon on who has the rightful claim to the bullion. Maduro says he needs the gold to help his cash-starved nation fight the coronavirus pandemic. But the central bank for the United Kingdom, whose government recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as his country's legitimate leader, has refused to hand it over to Maduro's socialist administration. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)
LONDON (AP) — A British judge has refused to give Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro control of nearly $2 billion in gold sitting in a Bank of England vault. The judge ruled that it is unlawful to give it to Maduro since Britain does not recognize him as president. Maduro has demanded the gold to help his cash-starved nation fight the coronavirus pandemic. But the United Kingdom’s government recognizes Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as his country’s legitimate leader and its central bank has refused to hand the gold over. A lawyer representing Maduro’s side promised to appeal.
