Venezuela: US slams sanctions on 6 officials in Nicolas Maduro’s government

VENEZUELA – The United States has slammed sanctions on officials associated with Nicolas Maduro’s government in Venezuela. The officials, who are six in number are Richard Jesus Lopez Vargas, Commanding General of the Venezuelan National Guard, Jesus Maria Mantilla Oliveros and Commander of Strategic Integral Defense Region Guayana, Alberto Mirtiliano Bermudez Valderrey.

Others are Division General for the Integral Defense Zone in Bolivar State, Jose Leonardo Norono Torres, Division General and Commander for the Integral Defense Zone in Tachira State, Jose Miguel Dominguez Ramirez, Chief Commissioner of the FAES (police special forces) in Tachira, and Cristhiam Abelardo Morales Zambrano, National Police Director.

The officials according to Spokesman of the Department of States were associated with with obstruction of the entry of international humanitarian aid into Venezuela or violence against those who attempted to deliver this assistance.

Venezuela has been in a state of tumoil, which persisted after the election of President Nicolas Maduro. Juan Guaido, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, invoked constitutional provisions as a result of crisis and hyper inflation to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s re-election last year was fraudulent. Guaido has since been recognized by most Western nations as the rightful leader of Venezuela.

The United States and the international community have continued to support the Venezuelan people as they strive to reclaim their democracy. “We must support Juan Guaido’s interim presidency per Venezuela’s Constitution, its National Assembly, and the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people”, the Department of State said.

See the full statement

Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC
March 1, 2019

Today, the United States took action against six security officials of the illegitimate Maduro regime associated with obstruction of the entry of international humanitarian aid into Venezuela or violence against those who attempted to deliver this assistance.

Sanctions were imposed on Richard Jesus Lopez Vargas, Commanding General of the Venezuelan National Guard, Jesus Maria Mantilla Oliveros, Commander of Strategic Integral Defense Region Guayana, Alberto Mirtiliano Bermudez Valderrey, Division General for the Integral Defense Zone in Bolivar State, Jose Leonardo Norono Torres, Division General and Commander for the Integral Defense Zone in Tachira State, Jose Miguel Dominguez Ramirez, Chief Commissioner of the FAES (police special forces) in Tachira, and Cristhiam Abelardo Morales Zambrano, National Police Director.

The United States and the international community continue to support the Venezuelan people as they strive to reclaim their democracy. We must support Juan Guaido’s interim presidency per Venezuela’s Constitution, its National Assembly, and the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people.