OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada imposed sanctions on five current or former senior officials of the Venezuelan government on Tuesday, saying the individuals had engaged in activities that undermine democracy in the country.
The Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement the sanctions targets “have been implicated in fraudulently declaring Nicolas Maduro the winner of the July 28, 2024, presidential election.”
Those targeted include Caryslia Beatriz Rodriguez, the head of Venezuela’s top court, the Supreme Justice Tribunal.
Neither the Venezuelan communications ministry nor the court responded immediately to requests for comment.
President Maduro and his government have always rejected sanctions by the United States and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an “economic war” designed to cripple Venezuela. Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the country’s resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions.
The court’s justices – including Rodriguez – and electoral authorities have said Maduro won a third term in the contested July presidential election.
Authorities have not released ballot box-level tallies of votes, despite international requests to do so, and have rejected a September United Nations report criticizing repression of the opposition.
The opposition has released ballot box-level tallies it says show a resounding victory for its erstwhile candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who has since fled to Spain.
Several countries, including the United States, have said Gonzalez is Venezuela’s president-elect.
The other four officials who had sanctions imposed by Canada are a Supreme Tribunal judge, a member of the National Electoral Council, another judge and a prosecutor.
“Canada remains deeply concerned by the Maduro regime’s destabilizing and anti-democratic activities and the threat they pose to Venezuelans and the region,” the Canadian foreign ministry said.
The United States in November imposed sanctions on 21 senior Venezuelan officials, including members of Maduro’s cabinet, for what Washington said was their role in suppressing post-election protests.
At least two dozen people were killed at the protests and about 2,000, including dozens of teenagers, were arrested.
Venezuela’s attorney general said on Monday that 533 arrested protesters had been freed, though rights groups said they have not been able to verify all the releases.
This post is originally published on INVESTING.
