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US imposes sanctions on seven pro-government Venezuelan politicians

Tuesday, 14 January 2020 1:18 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 14 January 2020 10:26 AM ]

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

The US has imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan politicians it says helped President Nicolas Maduro wrest control of the country’s congress, called the National Assembly.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday the measures freeze any US assets of those targeted.

The sanctions also prohibit Americans from doing business with them. Among those targeted are government-backed Luis Parra, Adolfo Superlano and Negal Morales.

Parra has categorically rejected the US move, saying it was unacceptable for foreign nations to meddle in the Venezuelan National Assembly’s actions.

"Treasury has designated seven corrupt National Assembly officials who, at the bidding of Maduro, attempted to block the democratic process in Venezuela," Mnuchin said in a statement.

"These and other designated officials can have sanctions removed if they side with the people of Venezuela and Juan Guaido as their legitimate leader,” he said.

Washington backs the country’s opposition figure Juan Guaido who declared himself interim president last January. Caracas blames the US for the political crisis in the country, saying Guaido is Washington’s puppet.

Last week, Maduro slammed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as a “failed clown,” after the US official congratulated Guaido for claiming reelection as “parliament speaker.”

In a state TV address on January 7, Maduro described Guaido’s swearing-in ceremony as “a show” and said the US President Donald Trump’s administration “is going to continue failing and failing and failing and Mike Pompeo will continue to stage the show, the clowning.”

Venezuela’s Maduro lashes out at US’s Pompeo for backing opposition figure

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro calls US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a “failed clown.”

The US State Department had also earlier threatened Caracas that if Guaido were arrested, Washington would take measures “that go much further” than those already adopted against the Venezuelan government, including even harsher economic sanctions.

Parra was sworn in as the new speaker of Venezuela’s National Assembly on January 5 as security forces prevented Guaido and allied lawmakers from entering the building.

Guaido was seen clashing with security forces to enter the parliament. He was also shown attempting to climb over the railing around the National Assembly premises to gain entry as police officers pushed him back with riot shields.

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