The United States is acting again today to hold Nicolás Maduro and his representatives accountable for undermining the electoral process in Venezuela and repressing the Venezuelan people. Four months after the Venezuelan people elected Edmundo González Urrutia as president on July 28, Maduro and his representatives continue to falsely claim victory and violate democratic principles. Furthermore, Maduro’s security apparatus has engaged in widespread abuses, including killings, repression, and mass detention of protestors.
The Department of the Treasury is imposing sanctions on 21 Maduro-aligned individuals, including members of the security forces and cabinet-level officials. Concurrently, the Department of State continues to take steps to impose new visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 9931 on Maduro-aligned individuals who undermined a competitive and inclusive electoral process in Venezuela or are responsible for acts of repression.
Including today’s actions, Treasury has sanctioned 180 current or former Venezuelan officials for repressing and intimidating the democratic opposition in a desperate and illegitimate attempt to cling to power by force and the State Department has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on nearly 2,000 individuals for their role in undermining the electoral process or in acts of repression in Venezuela. We will continue to work with our international partners to defend democratic freedoms in Venezuela and ensure Maduro and his representatives are held accountable for their actions.
The visa restriction actions were taken pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 9931. Treasury’s sanctions actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13692, “Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela,” as amended. Executive Order 13857 expanded Executive Order 13692’s definition of “Government of Venezuela” to include individuals who have acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela including Maduro-aligned officials.