The United States has announced sanctions against 21 Venezuelan officials, citing their involvement in suppressing protests following Venezuela's disputed presidential election in July.
Among those sanctioned are key members of President Nicolas Maduro's Cabinet, including Planning Minister Ricardo Jose Menedez and Communications Minister Freddy Alfred Nazaret, alongside senior intelligence figures Alexis Jose Rodriguez and Javier Jose Marcano.
The US government accuses Maduro of falsely declaring victory in the election and insists opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez is the legitimate president-elect.
Washington has described the election as non-transparent and criticized the Venezuelan regime for failing to publish detailed polling data.
The sanctions have drawn international attention, with Western nations and global organizations echoing calls for election transparency.
In response, Maduro’s government denounced the sanctions, branding them a “desperate act” by the US against officials who claim to uphold national stability and economic recovery amid the country’s challenges.
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