IMO Chavez has simply made an "off the cuff" decision to give LC and LB to the Russians and the CVG and then told Sanz to make it happen regardless of the legal, operational or logic of that decision.

Sanz, realizing that the legal and international repercussions are going to haunt Venezuela for years to come, has tried to obscure their intentions and has no intention of formally notifying KRY or GRZ as he well knows that that formal notification will immediately start the legal process which in turn will likely create all sorts of delays and obligations he isn't in any position to deliver on.

KRY and GRZ on the other hand, do not wish to start any action or change their activities without formal notification from the government that they are being turfed out for no good reason because to do so will weaken their legal position. They have to continue to act "in good faith" until such times that the Venezuelan government actually shows their hand.

GRZ with $120 million in cash and equipment could easily look elsewhere to JV or take over a cash strapped junior miner anywhere else in the world but they cannot move until they are actually notified by Venezuela that their deal has been rescinded without weakening future claims for compensation.

KRY has a little less cash, but they could still move elsewhere and probably start up a reasonable operation considering the number of unfunded potential mines there are out there at present.

Venezuela however really want KRY and GRZ to pack up and leave without formally throwing them out so that they can claim in court that the companies abandoned the projects and were not forced out. This is patent nonsense of course, but it is a delaying tactic to avoid or minimise the inevitable payout that both KRY and GRZ will be entitled to.

JMHO.