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WASHINGTON — In response to Venezuela’s controversial presidential election held in July, the U.S. government announced on Thursday the implementation of sanctions targeting 16 affiliates of President Nicolás Maduro. These sanctions are in reaction to allegations of electoral interference and human rights violations connected to the electoral process.
Among those sanctioned are prominent figures including the head of Venezuela’s Supreme Court, various leaders within the state security apparatus, and several prosecutors. The timing of this action aligns with the recent exile of Edmundo González Urrutia, who served as a representative for leading opposition groups and asserted that he had achieved a significant victory in the disputed election.
The electoral authorities in Venezuela promptly declared Maduro as the election winner on the night of the vote, but notably failed to publish detailed voting statistics to substantiate their assertion. The absence of this transparency faced widespread international criticism, compelling Maduro to petition the Supreme Court—comprised largely of his supporters—to conduct an audit of the electoral results. This court subsequently reaffirmed the claim of his victory.
Observations by independent experts from both the United Nations and the Carter Center, who were invited by Maduro’s administration to monitor the election, concluded that the results proclaimed by electoral authorities were not credible.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed criticism of the Venezuelan government’s actions, stating, “Instead of honoring the democracy of the Venezuelan electorate as indicated in the ballots, Maduro and his associates have wrongfully proclaimed victory while employing tactics of repression and intimidation against the rightful democratic opposition, in a misguided effort to maintain power through coercive means.”
Furthermore, the State Department has announced new visa restrictions for allies of Maduro who are accused of hindering the electoral process and suppressing the rights of Venezuelan citizens, though specific names have not been disclosed.
The Treasury Department continues to take a strong stance, having already imposed sanctions on over 140 current or former Venezuelan officials. Moreover, the State Department has flagged nearly 2,000 individuals potentially subject to visa restrictions due to allegations of corruption, acts undermining democracy, or violations of human rights in Venezuela.
Source
abcnews.go.com