For years, many Lebanese have felt hopeless about the country’s political and economic quagmire. ![]() Salameh has denied any wrongdoing.Īlthough Lebanon does not extradite its citizens, investigations into Salameh’s alleged crimes-including embezzlement, money laundering, illicit enrichment, and tax evasion-that are underway in Lebanon and six European countries may mark a turning point for Lebanon. The next week, Germany issued its own arrest warrant. The country launched a corruption investigation into Salameh and his associates over, among other things, the alleged laundering of more than $330 million from Lebanon’s public funds for personal use, including the purchase of luxury properties in Europe. On May 16, France issued an arrest warrant for Salameh over his failure to appear for questioning before investigators in Paris. ![]() Now, he faces the prospect of prison time. Salameh has headed Lebanon’s central bank for nearly 30 years. The message is clear: Lebanon’s protestors want Salameh out of power-and held to account. Posters at demonstrations across the country regularly feature Salameh’s face, whether stained with a bloody handprint or depicted in a fake mugshot. One of the most prominent targets is Riad Salameh, the governor of Banque du Liban, Lebanon’s central bank. For more than three years, Lebanese citizens have continued to stage sporadic protests amid a dire economic crisis, directing their rage at the country’s political elite.
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