CNN
—
The United States on Wednesday announced new individual sanctions against more than 20 officials aligned with Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro in an effort to pressure Maduro to accept the results of Venezuela’s presidential election in July. , government officials said at a press conference.
Thursday marks exactly four months since July’s elections, and senior officials believe the new sanctions will put pressure on Venezuelan officials to secede from Maduro’s government and encourage the country’s transition to democracy. There is.
U.S. officials said the new sanctions target military personnel from the Bolivarian National Guard, Bolivarian National Police and other security agencies.
Officials sanctioned Wednesday include Maduro’s new chief of staff Anibal Coronado, communications minister Fredy Náñez and intelligence chief Alexis Rodríguez.
Broad oil sanctions and general permits that allow certain companies, including U.S. oil giant Chevron, to operate in Venezuela remain in place but are “under constant review,” one of the officials said. Ta.
Maduro’s government said in a statement that the sanctions were “coercive” and targeted “patriots who have dedicated themselves to defending peace, stability, economic recovery, and (Venezuela’s) national unity.” , said it rejected sanctions.
Caracas also referred to the Biden administration, calling the move a “desperate act by a decadent and erratic government seeking to cover up the deep social crisis caused by the electoral debacle and diaspora.” .
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on the This was just one week after he was officially recognized as president.
“The people of Venezuela spoke out loud on July 28 to make Edmundo Gonzalez their next president. Democracy demands respect for the will of the voters,” the top US diplomat said while attending the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Posted on.
Asked whether there had been any communication with President-elect Donald Trump’s national security team regarding Venezuela, one of the officials declined.
“We are taking these actions with respect to Venezuela as part of the Biden administration’s commitment to promoting democracy in Venezuela. We are also taking these actions with respect to Venezuela, as part of the Biden administration’s commitment to promoting democracy in Venezuela. “It is about holding people accountable for their actions, including subverting them,” one person said. the official said. “We are of course aware that there will be a change of government on January 20th, and it is possible that the new administration will address this issue with Venezuela at that time.”
Since the Venezuelan crisis erupted in 2017, most of Venezuela’s ministers have been subject to sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Maduro himself has been under sanctions since July 31, 2017. Three years later, the Justice Department formally indicted Maduro on drug trafficking and terrorism-related charges. To date, U.S. prosecutors are offering rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of powerful Venezuelan figures.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.
