EU extends sanctions on Venezuela amidst disputed election
The European Union has expanded sanctions on Venezuela, adding more individuals to the blacklist. This is a reaction to the inauguration of dictator Nicolás Maduro for a third term as president. The election results have been widely rejected by the international community, including Brazil and Colombia.
The European Union has decided to extend sanctions on Venezuela for another year. This decision is in response to the political situation in the country. The EU added 15 new names to the list of individuals subject to restrictions, including members of the National Electoral Council, judges, and security officials.
The sanctions include asset freezes and a ban on providing funds to those listed, as well as a travel ban within the European Union. In total, 69 individuals are now subject to these restrictions. The decision was made due to "persistent actions undermining democracy and the rule of law" and human rights violations in Venezuela.
The European Union imposed its first sanctions on Venezuela in November 2017. These include an arms embargo and equipment intended for internal repression. The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, recalled that on July 28, 2024, millions of Venezuelans voted for democratic change, giving significant support to Edmundo González Urrutia.
In 2024, Nicolás Maduro proclaimed victory, officially garnering over 60% of the vote. These results were immediately challenged by the opposition and a significant part of the international community, including Brazil and Colombia, who considered them not reflective of the true will of the citizens. The opposition pointed to low voter turnout and numerous cases of fraud.
International reactions
On Friday, in addition to the EU, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States also announced new sanctions against high-ranking Venezuelan officials. The Venezuelan authorities refused to publish the official polling station records, leaving the announced results unverified.
In the conclusions from the EU summit on December 19, 2024, leaders expressed concern about the situation in Venezuela, calling for the release of all political prisoners and adherence to international law obligations. Reports of opposition protests accompanying Maduro's inauguration are coming from Caracas.
The United States accuses Maduro of "narco-terrorism," specifically flooding the U.S. with cocaine. They are offering a $25 (CAD 35) million reward for information leading to the arrest of the president of Venezuela.
