US prepares new sanctions against Venezuelan officials

Francisco Palmieri, the Biden administration’s ambassador to Colombia and head of the U.S. Foreign Office for Venezuela, commented on Friday on possible new sanctions against more than 15 officials of Nicolás Maduro’s government.

The sanctions are motivated by serious human rights violations in Venezuela, which have increased dramatically since the presidential elections on July 28.

“We are going to hold them accountable using the mechanisms we have in the United States. Human rights violations are a serious crime under international law,” Palmieri said in an interview with Luz Mely Reyes and Vladimir Villegas.

The context of the statement is a Reuters publication from August 21, in which it was revealed that there would be sanctions against 60 Maduro officials, including the relatives of those people.

The US ambassador said that Maduro must understand that he is increasingly isolating Venezuela with his refusal to recognize the election results: Although he claims to have won, there is no evidence from the National Electoral Council that this was the case. The Electoral Authority has not published the minutes or the results in detail.

For his part, US Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Brian Nichols said on Friday that the Venezuelan opposition, led by María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, shared evidence that the latter was the winner of the elections.

“The National Electoral Council has the same data showing that Edmundo received the most votes on July 28. No more delays. The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected,” Nichols posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Venezuela’s democratic opposition has shared the evidence of the vote count with the entire world. The National Electoral Council has the same data showing that Edmundo received the most votes on July 28. No more delays. The will of the people… pic.twitter.com/VOS2K7dH2J

— Brian A. Nichols (@WHAAsstSecty) September 6, 2024