US prepares sanctions against Venezuelan officials

The United States is laying the groundwork for new sanctions against Venezuelan government officials.

He Department of the Treasury, is close to announcing fifteen individual sanctions against officials who are affiliated with Nicolas Madurowhich would have “obstructed the holding of free and fair presidential elections”.

In view of this, the Department of State, plans to impose visa restrictions on 34 family members of government officials, according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

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The measures also target key leaders who, according to EE. UU, collaborated with Nicolas Maduro in order to undermine the election of last July 28; a list that includes members of the local authority, the highest court of Venezuelathe National Assembly and the intelligence and military intelligence police, known as SEBIN y DGCIM.

Meanwhile, EE. UU The US and other countries have questioned the legitimacy of the vote recount, and some of Maduro’s allies have urged the government to publish the vote tabulations. It should be noted that last Monday, the Maduro government ordered the arrest of the presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who was the winner of the vote, according to EE. UU.

For his part, a press officer of the Department of the Treasury declined to comment and a government representative Venezuela did not respond to requests for comment. However, a member of the Department The state said the agency does not provide advance notice of sanctions.