Venezuela condemns new US and European sanctions

(Patria) - Venezuela on Saturday condemned new sanctions imposed the previous day by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, as President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third term after a six-month electoral dispute, Reuters reported.

“The Bolivarian National Armed Forces categorically and energetically reject the new sanctions imposed by the infamous imperialist brotherhood,” wrote General Domingo Hernandez Larez, head of the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela in a statement posted on social media.

He called the sanctions “a desperate action, outside the rule of international law.”

The condemnation came after outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration increased the reward to $25 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maduro on drug trafficking charges. The previous reward was $15 million.

It also issued a $25 million reward for Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and a $15 million reward for Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, as well as new sanctions against eight other officials, including the head of state oil company PDVSA Hector Obregon.

Washington accused Maduro and others of drug trafficking and corruption, among other charges, in 2020. Maduro has rejected the accusations. Hernandez’s statement said the Venezuelan government had carried out a “direct attack on the scourge of drug trafficking.”

The move coincided with sanctions from London and the European Union, each targeting 15 officials, including members of the National Electoral Council and security forces, and Canadian sanctions against 14 current and former officials.

Maduro, president since 2013, was declared the winner of the July election by both Venezuela’s electoral authority and its highest court, although detailed results confirming his victory were not released. Venezuela’s opposition says ballot-level results show a landslide victory for its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez.

Maduro’s nearly twelve years in power have been marked by a deep economic and social crisis and the exodus of millions of Venezuelans fleeing the country. His government has always rejected all sanctions, saying they are illegitimate measures that constitute an “economic war” designed to cripple Venezuela.