The U.S. government this week extended the term of a protection measure against Citgo creditors until July next year, Reuters has reported , noting the measure effectively bars creditors from taking shares in Citgo as repayment for a bond that matured on October 27 this year. The bond was issued by Citgo’s parent company, Venezuela’s PDVSA, operating through a U.S.-based entity. Half of Citgo’s U.S. parent’s shares were used as collateral for the debt, sparking outrage among Venezuela’s opposition members, led by Juan Guaido, who tried to take control of the refiner last year. The attempt was unsuccessful because of U.S. sanctions against PDVSA. Guaido’s opposition claimed the bond was “absolutely fraudulent”, issued without the approval of Venezuela’s parliament—the National Assembly—which was dominated by the opposition. Two months ago, a U.S. judge, however, ruled the bond was “valid and enforceable”, potentially opening the way to creditors to claim Citgo […]