US Imposes Sanctions on 16 Venezuelan Officials Tied to Maduro, Reports Reuters

By Matt Spetalnick and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration announced on Thursday the imposition of U.S. sanctions on 16 associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, citing voter fraud in the recent election and a subsequent crackdown on political opposition by his government.

This action follows the recent flight of Edmundo Gonzalez, who was recognized by the U.S. and other nations as the winner of the July 28 presidential election. Gonzalez fled to Spain after a warrant was issued by Maduro’s government for his arrest.

Those targeted by the sanctions include Supreme Court President Caryslia Rodriguez, electoral council director Rosalba Gil, and National Assembly Vice President Pedro Infante, along with military and intelligence officials accused of repressing dissent in the aftermath of the election.

In addition to these sanctions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that visa restrictions would be implemented for an undisclosed number of officials aligned with Maduro.

However, the United States did not announce new measures regarding Venezuela’s crucial energy sector, which is already subject to extensive U.S. sanctions. This lack of action raises questions about the overall impact of the new sanctions.

The Biden administration aims to hold Maduro and his supporters accountable for what it perceives as a failure to uphold the promise of a fair democratic process while also pressuring him to negotiate with the opposition.

"The Treasury Department is targeting key officials involved in Maduro’s fraudulent claims of victory and his harsh suppression of free expression following the election, as the overwhelming majority of Venezuelans call for change,” stated Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil condemned the sanctions, asserting that his government rejects what he described as the “new crime of aggression” from the United States, which he claims imposes coercive, illegitimate, and illegal measures on state officials.

Election officials and Venezuela’s top court have endorsed Maduro’s claim of victory in the election, while the opposition has argued that its monitored tallies indicated a significant win for Gonzalez.

Numerous democratic nations have criticized Maduro for declaring victory without providing evidence, while also demanding transparency and alleging electoral manipulation.

Gonzalez, a 75-year-old veteran diplomat, sought political asylum in Spain after facing threats of arrest from Venezuelan authorities, who accused him of conspiracy among other charges, which he has denied.

The prospects for political change in Venezuela have dimmed significantly with Gonzalez’s departure, the post-election repression, and the international community’s inability to take decisive steps to diminish Maduro’s power.

Some U.S. officials have suggested that the measured response reflects concerns that aggressive actions could drive up global oil prices or inflict severe damage on an already struggling Venezuelan economy, potentially leading to an increase in Venezuelan migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s team is wary of providing Republicans with further leverage on immigration issues ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections.

When questioned about possible future actions related to the oil sector, including restrictions on a major U.S. oil producer’s operations in Venezuela, a senior U.S. official indicated that various options were being considered but did not provide specifics.

The newly imposed Treasury sanctions will freeze any U.S. assets held by the targeted officials. However, doubts remain regarding the effectiveness of such individual sanctions, especially since the U.S. has already sanctioned over 140 Venezuelan officials, including Maduro himself, and imposed visa bans on nearly 2,000 individuals.

The U.S. official emphasized that these sanctions are a vital step in pressing Maduro to "make better decisions" regarding Venezuela’s political landscape before the presidential inauguration scheduled for January.

The Biden administration had previously dismissed Maduro’s reelection in 2018 as fraudulent, eased sanctions on the country’s oil industry last October in response to an agreement between Maduro and opposition parties, but then reinstated these sanctions in April, citing Maduro’s failure to fulfill his electoral pledges.