USA announced this Monday new sanctions against 21 senior officials of the regime Nicolas Maduroin response to the violent repressionlas arbitrary arrests and the denial of results of the presidential elections of the past July 28 in Venezuelain which the majority of voters supported the opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia.
“In his efforts to fraudulently declare himself the winner of Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election, Maduro ignored the will of the overwhelming majority of Venezuelan voters who elected Edmundo González Urrutia as their next president,” declared senior officials of Joe Biden’s administration this Wednesday.
He Treasury Departmentthrough the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)explained that these actions seek to hold accountable individuals who have allowed and carried out antidemocratic acts and systematic violations of human rights. The sanctions block any property or interest in assets of those sanctioned in the United Statesprohibit transactions with US entities and are designed to intensify pressure on the Maduro government.
The international community has pointed out that the July 28 electionsin which Nicolas Maduro declared himself the winner with the support of the Chavista National Electoral Council, were fraudulent. According to electoral records and statements by independent observers, the legitimate result widely favors the president-elect. Edmundo González Urrutia. Despite this, Maduro has refused to recognize the popular will and has intensified repression tactics.
Since the elections, security forces have made arbitrary arrests against opposition sympathizers and have violently repressed peaceful protests. In addition, the regime issued an arrest warrant against Gonzalez Urrutiaforcing him into exile, while opposition leaders such as Maria Corina Machado have faced threats of prosecution deemed politically motivated.
“He Venezuelan people “He has shown an unwavering commitment to democracy, facing unjust arrests, censorship and violent repression,” said a senior White House official. “The United States will not tolerate the continued subversion of democratic norms by Maduro and his allies”.
The sanctions announced are part of a set of broader measures under the Executive Order 13692designed to hold accountable officials involved in acts that undermine democracy. To date, the OFAC has imposed sanctions on more than 180 individuals and 100 Venezuelan entities, including military personnel, cabinet members and representatives of security forces.
“These sanctions not only seek to hold responsible Nicolas Madurobut also to those who execute repressive tactics to maintain their regime,” said the Treasury Department. Among those sanctioned are figures close to Diosdado Cabelloconsidered one of the most influential operators of the regime, as well as responsible for acts of repression in specific areas under government control.
In parallel, the State Department advertisement visa restrictions for officials involved in repression and electoral fraud. These measures are in addition to similar restrictions applied in September, when a plane used by the regime was seized. Maduro as part of the sanctions.
The announcement of these sanctions occurs in a context of growing international pressure against Maduro. More than 50 countries, including members of the European Unionhave publicly recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as president-elect. In September, the Organization of American States (OAS) passed a resolution condemning the actions of Madurowhile the foreign ministers of the G7 issued a statement expressing concern about the situation of the human rights in Venezuela.
“Democratic governments in the region and around the world pressure Maduro as a united front for transparency and a restoration of democracy in Venezuela,” officials declared this Wednesday.
In Latin Americacountries like Colombia y Brazil have played a central role in leading efforts to pressure the regime Maduro. These nations, with governments sympathetic to Chavismo, have reiterated their rejection of electoral fraud and they have asked for the cessation of repression, without this resulting in the recognition of the true results by the Venezuelan dictator.
“We do not rule out adjusting our sanctions policy to advance our foreign policy objectives,” declared a senior official. Although the Biden administration has indicated that its decisions seek to encourage democratic actions, critics argue that More forceful measures may be necessary to generate significant change.
Looking ahead to January 10, the date on which Gonzalez Urrutia plans to return to Venezuela to take office, american government has not received an official request to provide logistical support to Gonzalez Urrutiaofficials have noted that any request will be carefully evaluated.
“The United States will not participate in logistical operations without an official request from President-elect Edmundo González”the officials explained.
Below is the list of Venezuelan officials designated by the United States under the Executive Order 13692which sanctions those who contribute to the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela:
- Dilio Guillermo Rodríguez Díaz
Position: Commander of the REDI Capital.
Responsibility: Previously commander of the ZODI Capital 81 and rector of the Bolivarian Military University. - José Yunior Herrera Duarte
Position: Head of Zone Command No. 51 of the GNB from 2022.
Responsibility: Supervision of security operations in your jurisdiction. - Carlos Eduardo Aigster Villamizar
Position: Commander and division general of the ZODI Miranda since 2023.
Responsibility: Previously commander of the GNB Zone Command No. 62 in Bolívar. - Jesus Rafael Villamizar Gomez
Position: Commander of the Central REDI from 2024.
Responsibility: Former commander of the ZODI La Guaira and the Presidential Honor Guard; suspected of illicit enrichment. - Angel Daniel Balestrini Jaramillo
Position: Former commander of the ZODI Aragua. - Pablo Ernesto Lizano Colmenter
Position: Former commander of the ZODI Carabobo. - Luis Gerardo Reyes Rivero
Position: Former commander and division general of the ZODI Yaracuy. - José Alfredo Rivera Bastardo
Position: Director of Services of the Internal Order Maintenance Division of the GNB from 2024.
Responsibility: Former commander of the ZODI Falcón. - Alberto Alexander Matheus Meléndez
Position: Director of the GNB Logistics Division from 2024.
Responsibility: Former head of the National Anti-Drug Command of Venezuela. - Jesús Ramón Fernández Alayón
Position: Director of Operational Preparation of the GNB.
Responsibility: Former head of the Coastal Surveillance Command and commander of the Lara Command Zone.
- Rubén Darío Santiago Servigna
Position: BNP Brigadier General from 2023.
Responsibility: Implementation of the electoral citizen security operation. - Alexis José Rodríguez Cabello
Position: Director of SEBIN.
Responsibility: Cousin of the Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, sanctioned by OFAC since 2018. - Javier José Marcana Tabata
Position: Head of the DGCIM and the Presidential Honor Guard. - Orlando Ramón Romero Bolívar
Position: Commander of the Bolivarian Militia from 2024.
Responsibility: Former REDI central commander.
- Aníbal Eduardo Coronado Millán
Position: Minister of the Office of the President of Maduro since April 2024.
Responsibility: Execution of government policies, including electoral fraud and repression. - William Alfredo Castillo Bolle
Position: Vice Minister of Anti-Blockade Policies from 2022. - Ricardo José Menéndez Prieto
Position: Vice President of Planning since 2014.
Responsibility: Previously Minister of Higher Education, Industry, and Science and Technology. - Freddy Alfred Nazaret Nanez Contreras
Position: Minister of Communication and sectoral vice president of Communication, Culture and Tourism.
Responsibility: Former president of the National Television of Venezuela. - Daniella Desiree Cabello Contreras
Position: President of the Export Promotion Agency since September 2024.
Responsibility: Previously president of the Venezuelan Country Brand Foundation; daughter of Diosdado Cabello. - Julio José García Zerpa
Position: Minister of Penitentiary Services from 2024.
Responsibility: Manage a prison system criticized for overcrowding and abuse. - America Valentina Pérez Dávila
Position: Second vice president of the National Assembly.
Responsibility: Support for the proclamation of Maduro’s electoral victory.
