On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on 16 officials aligned with the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolás Maduro. These individuals have been accused of obstructing a free and fair presidential election process in Venezuela, while engaging in repression and violating the human and civil rights of Venezuelan citizens. The officials, designated under Executive Order (E.O.) 13692, played key roles in manipulating the electoral process and intensifying efforts to silence political opposition, a move that has drawn widespread international condemnation.
The sanctions target high-ranking members of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), and military and intelligence agencies, many of whom are accused of facilitating electoral fraud and using intimidation tactics to maintain Maduro’s grip on power.
The latest sanctions come in response to Venezuela’s contentious presidential election held on July 28, 2024. Maduro claimed victory in the election, a result widely viewed as fraudulent by the international community and many Venezuelans. Reports of voter suppression, intimidation, and widespread irregularities plagued the election, with opposition leaders and citizens alleging that the outcome had been rigged to ensure Maduro’s continued rule.
As the election concluded, opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who emerged as the leading contender against Maduro, was forced to flee the country after authorities issued an arrest warrant on fabricated charges. González has since sought asylum in Spain, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by political opponents in Venezuela.
In response to these developments, the U.S. Treasury Department has ramped up its efforts to hold accountable those responsible for undermining democratic processes in Venezuela. According to Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, “The Treasury Department is targeting key officials involved in Maduro’s fraudulent and illegitimate claims of victory and his brutal crackdown on free expression following the election.”
The Sanctioned Individuals
The officials sanctioned include top-ranking judicial, electoral, and military figures who have enabled Maduro’s regime to suppress dissent and distort the country’s electoral process. Each of these individuals played a role in ensuring that the election did not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people, from manipulating electoral procedures to carrying out arbitrary arrests and stifling opposition voices.
- Inocencio Antonio Figueroa Arizaleta
Figueroa, a judge in the Constitutional Chamber of the TSJ since 2014, has been instrumental in upholding Maduro’s fraudulent electoral victory. He participated in the TSJ’s technical review of the CNE’s contested election results and summoned political party leaders to certify Maduro’s win, despite widespread evidence of voter fraud. - Malaquias Gil Rodriguez
President of the TSJ’s Political-Administrative Chamber since 2022, Gil has a long history of undermining democracy. In the lead-up to the election, he disqualified prominent opposition candidate María Corina Machado from running, further eroding the possibility of a fair competition. Gil had previously been sanctioned by Canada for corruption and human rights violations. - Juan Carlos Hidalgo Pandares
A former general of the National Bolivarian Guard, Hidalgo now serves as vice president of the TSJ’s Political-Administrative Chamber. Like Gil, Hidalgo played a key role in barring opposition candidates from participating in the election, contributing to the regime’s efforts to stifle dissent. - Caryslia Beatriz Rodriguez Rodriguez
As president of the TSJ since January 2024, Rodriguez oversaw the electoral review process and supported the CNE’s decision to declare Maduro the winner. Her role in certifying the election results despite allegations of widespread fraud has made her a central figure in maintaining the regime’s hold on power. - Fanny Beatriz Marquez Cordero
Marquez, vice president of the TSJ, was deeply involved in the technical appraisal of evidence submitted during the election review process. Like Rodriguez, she supported the decision to declare Maduro the winner, despite strong opposition from political organizations and candidates. - Edward Miguel Briceno Cisneros
Briceno is a special judge in the First Court of First Instance with jurisdiction over terrorism. Following the election, he issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Edmundo González, who was forced into exile. The charges against González, including incitement to disobedience and conspiracy, were widely seen as politically motivated. - Luis Ernesto Duenez Reyes
A prosecutor aligned with Maduro’s regime, Duenez initiated the request for the arrest warrant against González. His actions demonstrate the extent to which Venezuela’s judiciary has been weaponized to target political opponents. - Rosalba Gil Pacheco
As a rector of the CNE and head of its Civil and Electoral Registry Commission, Gil Pacheco is accused of manipulating the electoral process by instituting irregularities and delaying voting procedures. She declared Maduro the winner without publishing precinct-level results, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election. - Antonio Jose Meneses Rodriguez
The CNE Secretary General, Meneses played a significant role in restricting poll watcher eligibility and introducing other electoral irregularities. His actions have been viewed as part of a broader strategy to ensure Maduro’s victory through undemocratic means. - Dinorah Yoselin Bustamante Puerta
As a prosecutor at the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCIM), Bustamante has been implicated in politically motivated prosecutions against opposition figures. Her actions have contributed to the arbitrary detention of key political opponents, further entrenching the Maduro regime’s repression. - Pedro Jose Infante Aparicio
Infante serves as the vice president of the National Assembly and led the Special Commission for the Investigation and Prosecution of Opposition Parties. His role in launching politically motivated investigations against opposition members has further exacerbated tensions in Venezuela. - Domingo Antonio Hernandez Larez
Hernandez, the Strategic Operational Commander of the National Armed Forces, has led military efforts to suppress peaceful protests and arrest opposition supporters. His involvement in human rights abuses dates back to 2019, making him a central figure in Maduro’s security apparatus. - Elio Ramon Estrada Paredes
As the Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), Estrada has overseen the detention of thousands of peaceful protestors. His command of the GNB’s Anti-Terrorism Directorate has enabled the regime to target those suspected of opposing Maduro’s rule. - Johan Alexander Hernandez Larez
Hernandez, Commander of REDI Capital of the GNB, has played a prominent role in quelling dissent in Miranda State. His leadership in arbitrary arrests and repression against civil society members highlights the regime’s brutal tactics. - Asdrubal Jose Brito Hernandez
Brito, the Director of Criminal Investigations of the DGCIM, is responsible for politically motivated arrests and detentions. The United Nations has identified him as a torturer, further highlighting the regime’s systemic abuse of human rights. - Miguel Antonio Munoz Palacios
As Deputy Director of SEBIN, Venezuela’s intelligence service, Munoz has led efforts to target opposition leaders and suppress political dissent. His role in coordinating politically motivated arrests has made him a central figure in the regime’s apparatus of repression.
The sanctions imposed by OFAC are part of a broader strategy by the U.S. government to isolate Maduro’s regime and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people. Since 2017, OFAC has implemented numerous sanctions targeting Maduro and his allies, aiming to pressure the regime into allowing a democratic transition.
In conjunction with the sanctions, the U.S. State Department announced new visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 9931. These restrictions apply to nearly 2,000 individuals involved in undermining Venezuela’s democracy, corruption, and human rights abuses. The Biden administration has reiterated its commitment to holding Maduro’s regime accountable and supporting efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela.
The European Union, Canada, and several Latin American countries have condemned the fraudulent election and continue to press for free and fair elections in Venezuela. However, the Maduro regime, bolstered by support from countries like Russia, China, and Iran, remains defiant, further deepening Venezuela’s political and economic crisis.
The U.S. sanctions against 16 Maduro-aligned officials reflect a continued effort to combat repression and promote democratic reform in Venezuela. As the country’s political crisis deepens, international pressure on the Maduro regime will likely intensify, though the path toward a democratic resolution remains uncertain. The Venezuelan people, bearing the brunt of a collapsing economy and authoritarian rule, continue to call for change, and the global community remains vigilant in its support for their democratic aspirations.
