A foreign ministry spokesman is quoted as saying that Switzerland provided “certain services” as part of its humanitarian policy to secure the release of Leininger according to a report in the Wednesday edition of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper.
US media reported that Leininger was taken to the Swiss embassy in Caracas and then to a hotel before he left Venezuela. The US state department and members of Congress were apparently also involved in the effort.
Leininger served a prison sentence in Venezuela for alleged arms smuggling and attempted manslaughter in 2014.
Washington has been trying to win the release of more than a dozen US citizens held in Venezuela, but it can’t provide any consular protection since both countries broke off diplomatic relations at the beginning of the year amid a power struggle between President Nicolás Maduro and the main opposition leader, Juan Guaidó.
Switzerland has offered its good offices to keep the lines of communication open, but Venezuela has not yet responded to the request.
Switzerland has also acted as an intermediary between the US and Iran since 1980 after the cessation of diplomatic relations between the two countries and also held long-running mandates as protecting power in the conflict between the US and Cuba until 2015.
More
More
Messenger, not mediator: Switzerland in Venezuela
This content was published on
Switzerland has agreed to represent the interests of the US in Venezuela. Former top Swiss diplomat Tim Guldimann gives some analysis.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
Swiss scientists to use AI for improved weather and climate forecasts
This content was published on
MeteoSwiss and the Swiss Data Science Center have signed a four-year agreement to make greater use of AI in meteorology and climatology going forward.
This content was published on
Prices of owner-occupied homes rose in the third quarter of 2024 by 0.5%, with inflation affecting both apartments and single-family houses, says the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
The honey harvest is projected to be lower than usual this year, as Swiss beekeepers report harvesting an average of just 16kg of honey per bee colony.
More young refugees in Switzerland following vocational training
This content was published on
More than half of young refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 25 are now in training. This is significantly more than five years ago.
One in five Swiss children suffers psychological abuse at home
This content was published on
In Switzerland, one in five children suffers psychological violence, and one in three has witnessed psychological violence between parents, says the association Kinderschutz Schweiz.
Swiss government minister breaks silence over Trump remarks controversy
This content was published on
Transport Minister Albert Rösti explained himself in a television interview on Sunday evening, after being called out for expressing support for Donald Trump.
Swiss Covid expert calls for caution on vaccination recommendations
This content was published on
The head of the vaccination commission would be “even more cautious today” when it comes to Covid-19 vaccination recommendations.
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
Switzerland calls for ‘restraint’ in Venezuela
This content was published on
Switzerland is calling for restraint in Venezuela, where a coup d'état attempt led by the country's self-proclaimed president Juan Guaidó, left dozens injured on Wednesday.
Trump discusses economic relations and ‘good offices’ with Swiss president
This content was published on
Ueli Maurer’s 40-minute meeting with US President Trump concerned Switzerland’s intermediary role between the US and Iran and Venezuela.
Switzerland takes on consular services for Iran and Saudi Arabia
This content was published on
The Swiss government has confirmed that it will officially take up a protecting power mandate in the Iran-Saudi Arabia conflict, representing consular interests.
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.