The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on 16 allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro due to allegations of voter fraud in Venezuela’s recent election and subsequent government’s crackdown on political opposition, Reuters reports.
The sanctions target high-ranking officials including Supreme Court President Caryslia Rodriguez, Electoral Council Director Rosalba Gil and National Assembly Vice President Pedro Infante, as well as military and intelligence officers linked to the election and post-election repression. The US also imposed visa restrictions but did not target Venezuela’s energy sector, likely to avoid raising global oil prices.
The move follows opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez fleeing to Spain after Maduro’s government issued a warrant for his arrest. Maduro’s government rejected the sanctions, while the US aims to pressure Maduro into negotiations with the opposition.
