The United States has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions against 16 individuals linked to Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro in connection to fraud allegations arising from the July 28 presidential election. The U.S. government has labeled the election as illegitimate.
“The United States is taking decisive action against Maduro and his associates for their suppression of the Venezuelan people and violation of their rights to a fair and free election,” stated U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo in a released statement.
The sanctioned individuals include Rosalba Gil Pacheco, Edward Miguel Briceno, Luis Ernesto Duenez, Juan Carlos Hidalgo, Caryslia Rodriguez, Malaquias Gil, Inocencio Antonio Figueroa, Antonio Jose Meneses, Dinorah Yoselin Bustamante, Pedro Jose Infante Aparicio, Domingo Antonio Hernandez, Elio Ramon Estrada, Johan Alexander Hernandez, Asdrubal Jose Brito, Miguel Antonio Munoz, and Fanny Beatriz Marquez.
Figueroa, a member of Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, was sanctioned for endorsing Maduro’s reelection, previously sanctioned by Canada in 2019.
Supreme Tribunal of Justice judges Gil, Rodriguez, and Hidalgo faced sanctions for disqualifying opposition figure MarÃa Corina Machado from the election ballot.
Briceno and Duenez were penalized for issuing an arrest warrant for Edmundo Gonzalez, Maduro’s primary opponent, recognized as the election winner by the U.S. and Spain. Gonzalez sought asylum in Spain and has been there since Sept. 8.
Gil Pacheco, serving on the National Electoral Council, implemented restrictive rules affecting poll watcher eligibility, electoral registration irregularities, and voting center delays, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Meneses, also on the National Electoral Council, was cited for similar actions related to poll watchers and electoral registration irregularities.
Bustamante, a prosecutor at the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, was accused of initiating politically motivated prosecutions and detaining officials opposing Maduro.
Estrada, the commander of the Bolivarian National Guard, was involved in harassing Machado supporters and detaining Maduro protesters post-election.
