U.S. Sanctions Venezuelan Officials Following Contested Election

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials Following Disputed Election

On Thursday, the United States government announced the imposition of sanctions on 16 officials from the Venezuelan government, all of whom were appointed by the autocratic leader, Nicolás Maduro. This decision comes in the wake of the contentious presidential election held on July 28, which has been widely criticized both domestically and internationally.

The past year leading up to the election was marked by significant repression, culminating in a harsh crackdown against dissent following the election results. On Election Day, President Maduro declared victory without providing a detailed breakdown of the voting results, a transparency that has yet to be seen. In contrast, the opposition has released thousands of receipts from voting stations, indicating that their candidate, Edmundo González, won an overwhelming majority, with estimates suggesting he garnered over 80 percent of the votes.

A senior official from the U.S. administration, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic discussions, stated during a conference call with journalists that it is evident that Mr. González received more votes than Mr. Maduro’s administration acknowledges. The official emphasized that the Maduro government is attempting to maintain its grip on power at any cost, despite the clear evidence of electoral defeat.

Who is being sanctioned?

The list of individuals facing sanctions includes key figures from various branches of the Venezuelan government, encompassing:

• Officials from the country’s electoral authority
• Members of the supreme court
• Judicial system representatives
• Legislative leaders
• Security force commanders

These individuals are now added to a lengthy roster of hundreds of Venezuelan officials who have faced sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department in recent years, a list that notably includes President Maduro himself.