The US sanctions 21 Maduro security officials, linked to post-election repression

Among them are the head of the intelligence service, Alexis José Rodríguez Cabello, the head of the Military Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCIM), Javier José Marcano Tábata, the Minister of Communication, Freddy Ñáñez, and Daniella Desiree Cabello, daughter of the Minister of the Interior. Diosdado Hair.

According to the Treasury Department, these sanctions are issued under Executive Order 13692, as amended, for current or former officials of the regime of Venezuela. “These individuals have supported and executed Maduro’s orders to repress civil society in his attempt to fraudulently declare himself the winner of the elections.” elections presidential elections on July 28 in Venezuela, ignoring the will of the majority of Venezuelan voters who elected Edmundo González Urrutia as their next president”

Following the elections, Venezuelan security forces have arbitrarily arrested democratic opposition supporters en masse, violently repressed protests, and denied people the right to peacefully assemble without reprisals. These tactics also included the issuance of an unjustified arrest warrant against President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, prompting his departure from Venezuela.

“The repressive actions of Maduro and his representatives following the Venezuelan presidential elections are a desperate attempt to silence the voices of its citizens,” said Bradley T. Smith, Acting Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “The United States will continue to shine a light on those who seek to use violence and intimidation to undermine democratic governance and the legitimate exercise of free expression.”

Simultaneously, the State Department is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 9931 on individuals aligned with Maduro who have undermined the process. electoral in Venezuela and/or are responsible for acts of repression. With these actions, nearly 2,000 individuals have been identified to date as subject to visa restrictions for their role in undermining democracy, engaging in significant corruption, or violating the human rights of the Venezuelan people.

Regime reacts

The Chavista dictatorship described as a “desperate act” the new sanctions that the United States imposed this Wednesday on 21 officials, 15 of them military, whom Washington accused of leading the repression so that Maduro would “fraudulently” declare himself re-elected president.

“The measures announced today – by the United States – are a desperate act by a decadent and erratic government, which seeks to hide its resounding electoral failure and the serious social crisis in which it leaves the country,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. of Chavismo after rejecting the sanctions against the “group of patriots.”

Venezuelan military and police officials

The individuals sanctioned today are senior Venezuelan officials, including members of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), the Bolivarian National Police (BNP), the Bolivarian Militia, the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM). ). These individuals are being designated under Executive Order 13692, “Property Blocking and Suspension of Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela,” as amended, for being current or former officials of the Government of Venezuela.

GNB officials

The GNB has led the violent repression after the elections. GNB members used their firearms to suppress protesters, arrest and beat minors, and carry out arbitrary detentions. The GNB was deployed to control the protests, at times taking a leading role beyond its assigned constitutional responsibilities. The GNB failed to prevent non-state armed groups from harassing and attacking protesters on July 30. Many of the officials appointed today are leaders of the GNB’s military districts and operational zones, known as the Strategic Comprehensive Defense Regions (REDI) and Comprehensive Defense Operational Zones (ZODI).

Dilio Guillermo Rodríguez Díaz is commander of the REDI Capital. Previously, he served as commander of the ZODI Capital 81 and as rector of the Bolivarian Military University.
José Yunior Herrera Duarte has served as head of the GNB’s Zone Command No. 51 since 2022.
Carlos Eduardo Aigster Villamizar has served as commander and division general of the ZODI Miranda State since 2023. He also served as commander of the GNB’s Zone Command No. 62 in Bolívar state.
Jesús Rafael Villamizar Gómez has served as commander of the REDI Central since 2024. Previously, he served as commander of the ZODI La Guaira and as head of the Presidential Honor Guard. His personal enrichment while working as a senior Venezuelan official is suspected.
Ángel Daniel Balestrini Jaramillo previously served as commander of the ZODI Aragua.
Pablo Ernesto Lizano Colmenter previously served as commander of the ZODI Carabobo.
Luis Gerardo Reyes Rivero previously served as commander and division general of the ZODI Yaracuy.
José Alfredo Rivera Bastardo has served as GNB services director for the Internal Order Maintenance Division since 2024. He previously served as commander of the ZODI Falcón.
Alberto Alexander Matheus Meléndez has served as director of the GNB Logistics Division since 2024. He previously served as head of the Venezuelan National Anti-Drug Command.
Jesús Ramón Fernández Alayón is the director of Operational Preparation of the GNB. He also held previous roles as head of the Coastal Surveillance Command and as commander of the GNB Command Zone in Lara.

NP, SEBIN, DGCIM and Militia officials

Venezuela’s extensive security apparatus has also contributed to the violence after the elections. The BNP is a Venezuelan security agency responsible for harassment and arbitrary arrests, including minors, in response to protests rejecting the official information on the electoral results released by the current President of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela. The SEBIN has detained journalists who report on the electoral process, repression and abuse of power. In addition, the Bolivarian Militia is a special body made up of military reserves and the territorial militia with the purpose of supporting the Armed Forces of Venezuela.

Rubén Darío Santiago Servigna has served as brigadier general of the BNP since 2023. He is also the officer in charge at the national level of the implementation of the citizen security electoral operation.
Alexis José Rodríguez Cabello is the director of SEBIN. He is a cousin of Maduro’s Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who has been sanctioned by OFAC since 2018.
Javier José Marcana Tabata is the head of the DGCIM and the Presidential Honor Guard.
Orlando Ramón Romero Bolívar has commanded the Bolivarian Militia since 2024. He previously also served as
commander of the Central REDI.

Venezuelan officials from various ministries

The following individuals are Maduro-aligned officials from various ministries, responsible for executing policies that support undemocratic acts. These individuals are being designated today pursuant to Executive Order 13692, “Property Blocking and Suspension of Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela,” as amended, for being current or former officials of the Government of Venezuela.

Aníbal Eduardo Coronado Millán has served as a minister of the Office of the President of Maduro since April 2024 and as a Government Performance Monitor of the Office of the President of Maduro. He is also the “head of government” in the Insular Territory of Francisco de Miranda. Previously, he served in the Presidential Honor Guard. Maduro’s Office of the Presidency has carried out Maduro’s directive to commit electoral fraud, repress Venezuelans, and continue undemocratic acts.
William Alfredo Castillo Bolle has served as Vice Minister of Anti-Blockade Policies in the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Foreign Trade of Venezuela since 2022.
Ricardo José Menéndez Prieto has been Maduro’s Vice President of Planning in the Office of the Vice President since 2014. He previously served as Minister of Higher Education, Minister of Industry, and Minister of Science, Technology and Intermediate Industry.
Freddy Alfred Nazaret Ñáñez Contreras is Maduro’s Minister of Popular Power for Communication and the sectoral vice president of Communication, Culture and Tourism. He has served as sector vice president of Communication and Culture and Minister of Communication and Information. Previously, he served as president of Venezuelan National Television.
Daniella Desiree Cabello Contreras has served as president of Maduro’s Venezuelan Export Promotion Agency since September 2024. The Venezuelan Export Promotion Agency is tasked with diversifying Venezuelan exports and co-drafting the Unified Protocol for No Exports. Oil Companies and Related Activities, which creates a single payment for Venezuelan exports. She previously served as president of the Venezuelan Country Brand Foundation, reporting directly to Maduro’s executive vice president, Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, who has been sanctioned by OFAC since 2018. She is also the daughter of Diosdado Cabello Rondón.
Julio José García Zerpa has been Maduro’s Minister of Penitentiary Services since 2024. Previously, he served as a deputy for the state of Táchira and holds the position of first vice president of the Finance Commission of the National Assembly (AN) aligned with Maduro. Many opposition figures and other political prisoners are also unjustly imprisoned. Venezuelan prisons have been criticized for depriving prisoners of their freedoms, critical overcrowding, procedural delays and prison abandonment. In June, prison inmates across Venezuela led a hunger strike, demanding humanitarian measures and transfers to facilities closer to their families or where they were previously detained.
América Valentina Pérez Dávila has served as second vice president of the AN. The AN has supported Maduro’s fraudulent claim of victory in the July 28 presidential elections.

Implications of sanctions

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above, and of any entity owned directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually or with other blocked persons, that are located in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting through) the United States involving any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

Additionally, financial institutions and other persons who engage in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and individuals may be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement action. The prohibitions include making any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services by, for or for the benefit of any designated person, or receiving any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derives not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add individuals to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove individuals from the SDN List in accordance with law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to achieve a positive change in behavior. For information on the process for requesting removal from an OFAC sanctions list, including the SDN List, see OFAC FAQ 897 (here)