The Biden administration has targeted nearly 20 Venezuelan security officials and ministers who have worked with President Nicolás Maduro, further tightening a series of sanctions imposed along with other countries after the July election the United States deemed illegal. I'm doing it.
The sanctions target 21 people, including 15 leaders of the Bolivarian National Guard. Bolivarian National Police, Bolivarian National Intelligence Service, Bolivarian Militia and Military Counterintelligence Directorate;
The State Department is also imposing visa restrictions on pro-Maduro officials who are “responsible for interfering with Venezuela's electoral process and for acts of repression,” a senior administration official told reporters by phone Wednesday morning.
“The steps we are taking today build on the steps we have already taken to hold current and former Venezuelan officials accountable for undermining democracy in Venezuela and to hold them accountable for human rights violations,” the official said. It is based on multiple measures.”
The Biden administration last week formally recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the July 28 election and the next president of Venezuela. Gonzalez fled Venezuela in September after Maduro's government issued a warrant for his arrest. He is currently in Spain, he said he would go back to Venezuela will be inaugurated on January 10th.
The Biden administration has accused the Maduro administration of carrying out a crackdown on arbitrary arrests en masse of supporters of the democratic opposition. It violently suppresses protests and denies individuals the right to peacefully assemble.
The sanctions issued Wednesday build on other measures, including sanctions against 180 Venezuelan officials and 100 Venezuelan companies.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, foreign ministers from the G7 countries expressed their support for Gonzalez as the rightful winner.
“We continue to support the efforts of our regional partners to promote a democratic and peaceful transition of power led by Venezuela that ensures respect for the will of voters,” the statement said.
“We are deeply troubled by continued human rights violations and abuses, including arbitrary detention and severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly targeting political opponents, civil society and independent media. All political prisoners must be released.”
