OFAC Sanctions Venezuelan Officials for Impeding Presidential Elections

The Treasury Department this week sanctioned 16 Venezuelan officials that it said have ties to the Nicolas Maduro regime and who obstructed the country’s recent presidential elections (see 2407290044). The designated officials include leaders of the Maduro-aligned National Electoral Council and the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, which Treasury said “impeded a transparent electoral process and the release of accurate election results,” along with military, intelligence and government officials “responsible for intensifying repression through intimidation, indiscriminate detentions, and censorship.” The Biden administration will “continue to use our tools to hold Maduro and his cronies accountable and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said.