The UK has sanctioned 15 new individuals associated with Nicolás Maduro's contested regime today, while calling out his illegitimate claim to the presidency
- The UK has sanctioned 15 new individuals associated with Nicolás Maduro's contested regime today, while calling out his illegitimate claim to the presidency
- Sanctions are levelled against judges, including the head of Venezuela's top court, as well as members of the security forces and military officials responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law, and human rights violations
- Foreign Secretary describes Maduro regime as "fraudulent" as the Venezuelan leader is "inaugurated" in Caracas
The Foreign Secretary has called out Nicolás Maduro's presidency as "fraudulent" as the Venezuelan leader is sworn in at an official event in Caracas today (10 January).
Marking the date with a decisive message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people, the UK has announced a wave of new sanctions against 15 individuals including judges and senior-ranking officials in Maduro's regime, signalling the UK's serious concerns around the results of Venezuela's Presidential elections on 28 July, in which significant irregularities and lack of transparency were observed by independent domestic and international reports.
Among those facing sanctions are President of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice - Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez Rodríguez - who helped legitimise the 28 July election; and Director of Criminal Investigations at the General Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence - Asdrubal José Brito Hernández - an organisation responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses including the use of sexual and gender-based violence, torture, killings and the arbitrary detention of opposition members and civil society.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
Nicolás Maduro's claim to power is fraudulent. The outcome of July's election was neither free nor fair and his regime does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people.
Today's sanctions send a clear message. The UK will not stand by as Maduro continues to oppress, undermine democracy, and commit appalling human rights violations. All political prisoners must be released and the ongoing repression must end. We will continue to support the people of Venezuela in their fight for a democratic future.
Delivering a foundation of security in support of the government's Plan for Change, individuals identified under today's sanctions will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes, refusing them entry to the UK, and preventing them from holding funds or economic resources in the UK.
Similar measures have been taken by UK partners including Canada, the US and the EU, sending a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
Maduro's regime has been identified by international organisations as guilty of political repression, including politically motivated arbitrary arrests, and is being investigated for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
There are substantial grounds - including findings by a UN Panel of Experts and the Carter Center - to indicate that the regime's declared results of July's presidential election were not verified independently or transparently, with evidence suggesting the opposition candidate secured a significantly higher number of votes than was claimed by the sitting Venezuelan regime.
When protests broke out following the election, over 2,400 protestors including minors were detained by the state and the action was violently supressed by state authorities, following which 25 deaths were recorded.
Systemic repression has contributed to a culture of fear as fundamental freedoms have been eroded in Venezuela, and today the UK is taking action against some of the architects of this alarming political and humanitarian crisis.
As this Government delivers our Plan for Change, strengthening our partnerships abroad and working with our allies to defend global security and democratic values remains foundational to our ambitions to reconnect Britian with the world, working with shared purpose to make us safer, more secure and better off at home.
Background
Today the UK has sanctioned:
- Asdrubal José Brito Hernández, Director of Criminal Investigations at the General Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence
- Calixto Antonio Ortega Ríos, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Carlos Enrique Quintero Cuevas, Vice President of the National Electoral Council
- Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez Rodríguez, President of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Domingo Antonio Hernández Lárez, Commander in Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, and Commander of the Capital Strategic Integral Defence Region
- Elio Ramon Estrada Paredes, Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard
- Fanny Beatriz Márquez Cordero, Vice President of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Inocencio Antonio Figueroa Arizaleta, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Juan Carlos Hidalgo Pandares, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Lourdes Benicia Suárez Anderson, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Luis Fernando Damiani Bustillos, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Malaquias Gil Rodríguez, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
- Miguel Antonio Muñoz Palacios, Deputy Director of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service
- Rosalba Gil Pacheco, Principal Rector of the National Electoral Council
- Tania d'Amelio Cardiet, a Judge on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice
This action builds on existing UK sanctions targeting the Maduro regime, details of which can be found here.
