Guaidó has been in the United States since April, after his surprise arrival and departure from Bogotá, where he hoped to meet with the international community at a conference organized by the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro.
“Juan Guaidó used PDVSA resources to finance himself, pay his legal expenses, and forced PDVSA to accept his refinancing terms,” Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a statement broadcast on the state television channel.
The prosecution had previously opened an investigation against the politician for crimes such as treason, Saab said.
“These decisions caused losses to the nation of $19 billion, and have resulted in the almost definitive loss of Citgo,” the official added.
The prosecutor said that the arrest warrant against the opponent was requested for the crimes of treason; usurpation of functions; profit or diversion of money, securities or public goods; money laundering and association.
Citgo, the seventh largest oil refiner in the United States, is at risk from lawsuits from creditors seeking to recover years-long defaults.
A U.S. District Court in Delaware is expected to approve a sale procedure and schedule, which could lead to a stock auction as early as Oct. 23. The process is expected to last at least nine months.
Guaidó, a 40-year-old industrial engineer, headed an interim government in January 2019 that sought to force the departure of President Nicolás Maduro, who has remained in office with the support of the military and allied countries. The opponent was replaced as interim president and head of the opposition legislature at the end of 2022.