The US Treasury Department has sanctioned 16 Venezuelan officials who support Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The sanctions were imposed for ‘obstructing the electoral process and the publication of accurate election results’, the statement said.
The US Treasury Department announced yesterday that sanctions have been imposed on Venezuelan President Nicaolas Maduro and 16 senior officials who obstructed the dissemination of accurate election results in the aftermath of the disputed election process.
“All property and interests in property of designated individuals located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and persons may be subject to sanctions or may be the subject of an enforcement action.” Sanctioned individuals include Supreme Court President Caryslia Rodriguez, electoral council director Rosalba Gil and National Assembly Vice President Pedro Infante.
After Venezuela’s disputed elections in July, opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez fled the country under threat of arrest and sought refuge in Spain. Gonzalez, a 75-year-old former diplomat, ran against President Nicolas Maduro in the elections. According to the election results announced by the Supreme Court, Maduro won. But the opposition and many foreign governments saw Gonzalez as the winner. Maduro’s government issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez after the elections. In a statement, the US State Department blamed President Nicolas Maduro for Gonzalez’s asylum request.
