The Biden administration announced on Thursday that it has imposed sanctions on 16 individuals associated with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and issued visa restrictions. These officials are linked to electoral fraud in the presidential election on July 28, which the United States considers illegal.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated that 16 individuals, including top officials from Venezuela’s Supreme Court, the National Electoral Council, and the military, have been placed on a financial blacklist. This action freezes their assets in the U.S. and prohibits Americans from conducting business with them.
The Treasury Department pointed out that these officials have violated the civil rights and human rights of the people, obstructed transparent electoral processes and the release of accurate election results, and strengthened repression through intimidation, arbitrary detentions, and reviews.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo stated in a press release that the U.S. is taking decisive action against Maduro and his proxies for suppressing the Venezuelan people and depriving them of the right to free and fair elections.
The U.S. and other Western countries recognize opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of the presidential election on July 28. However, the Maduro government issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez in early September, leading him to seek asylum abroad, eventually finding refuge in Spain.
Gonzalez, a 75-year-old seasoned diplomat, has been accused by the Maduro authorities of conspiracy and other crimes, which he denies.
Many democratic nations have condemned Maduro for declaring victory without providing evidence, called for transparent elections, and accused him of tampering with vote counts.
Individuals sanctioned include Supreme Court Chief Caryslia Rodriguez, Electoral Council Director Rosalba Gil, and National Assembly Vice President Pedro Infante, as well as others involved in the elections and military and intelligence officials accused of repression post-election.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Maduro and his proxies have not respected the will expressed by the Venezuelan people at the ballot box, instead falsely claiming victory and suppressing democratic opposition with intimidation, attempting to illegitimately seize power by force.
In addition to the Treasury Department’s actions, the State Department is taking measures to impose new visa restrictions on officials aligned with Maduro. Their names have not been disclosed yet.
Blinken emphasized that, including today’s actions, the Treasury Department has sanctioned over 140 current or former Venezuelan officials for exacerbating the situation in Venezuela. Meanwhile, the State Department has identified nearly 2,000 individuals facing various visa restrictions for suspected involvement in undermining Venezuelan democracy, significant corruption, or human rights violations.
“The United States will continue to hold those accountable who undermine democracy in Venezuela,” pledged Blinken.
This move by the U.S. is not only an attempt to punish Maduro and his supporters but also to exert pressure on him to engage in negotiations with the opposition.
However, the potential impact of the individual sanctions and visa restrictions announced on Thursday remains unclear. Those previously sanctioned supporters of Maduro continue to play crucial roles in the Venezuelan government, including as vice president, attorney general, and defense minister.