U.S. Sanctions 21 Top Venezuelan Officials Over Alleged Election Fraud

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on 21 high-ranking Venezuelan ministers and security officials linked to President Nicolas Maduro. The sanctions come in response to their alleged support of Maduro’s disputed claim to victory in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election, which has been widely denounced as fraudulent.

Among those targeted are Anibal Eduardo Coronado Millan, who serves as the minister in Maduro’s Office of the President, Daniella Desiree Cabello Contreras, the president of the Venezuelan Export Promotion Agency, and Orlando Ramon Romero Bolivar, the commander of the Bolivarian Militia loyal to Maduro.

The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets held by these individuals and bar American citizens from conducting business with them. Additionally, financial institutions found engaging with the sanctioned officials could face penalties themselves.

The U.S. Treasury stated that the decision to sanction these individuals was based on their disregard for the will of Venezuelan voters, who, according to the Treasury, had overwhelmingly elected opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as president.

Maduro’s declaration of victory has been widely contested, with evidence suggesting Gonzalez Urrutia, a former diplomat and opposition figure, won the election by a significant margin. Following the announcement of the results, widespread demonstrations broke out across Venezuela. These protests were met with violent repression from Maduro-aligned forces, which included arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters, suppression of peaceful protests, and an arrest warrant issued for Gonzalez Urrutia, forcing him to flee into exile.

“Maduro’s repressive actions are a desperate attempt to silence the voices of citizens,” said Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. He emphasized the United States’ commitment to holding accountable those who use intimidation and violence to erode democratic principles, stating, “The United States will continue to hold accountable those who use violence and intimidation to undermine democratic governance.”

The sanctions serve as the latest measure by the U.S. to pressure Maduro’s government and support efforts to restore democratic governance in Venezuela.

By fLEXI tEAM