Canada announces sanctions against Venezuela
Canada has announced sanctions against key figures in President Maduro’s regime, in response to the ‘deterioration of democracy’ and ‘descent into dictatorship’ in Venezuela (22 September). Under the Special Economic Measures Act, Canada is imposing targeted sanctions against 40 Venezuelan officials and individuals considered to have undermined the ‘security, stability and integrity of democratic institutions of Venezuela’.
Venezuela has experienced months of political turmoil. Violent anti-government protests continue amid a backdrop of economic failure caused by falling oil prices, with acute shortages of food, medicines and essentials. On 30 July, President Maduro went ahead with the election of the National Constituent Assembly comprised of pro-government supporters, despite widespread criticism from over 40 countries, including the UK.
In August, the US upped its sanctions on Venezuela, aimed at starving the regime of US funds. US banks were banned from brokering deals with the government or the state-run oil company PDVSA, as well as dealing in certain existing bonds owned by the Venezuelan public sector and issuing dividends to the Venezuelan government. The EU has not recognised the new National Constituent Assembly, but has so far declined to press sanctions.
‘Canada will not stand by silently as the Government of Venezuela robs its people of their fundamental democratic rights. Today’s announcement of sanctions against the Maduro regime underscores our commitment to defending democracy and human rights around the world,’ said Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs. ‘Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela as they struggle to restore democracy in their country.’
The Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations impose asset freezes and dealings prohibitions on the targeted individuals by prohibiting persons in Canada and Canadians outside Canada from dealing in any property of these individuals or providing financial or related services to them. The specific prohibitions are set out in the Regulations.
The names of the individuals targeted by these Regulations are:
- Nicolás MADURO MOROS
- Tibisay LUCENA RAMÍREZ
- Elías José JAUA MILANO
- Tareck Zaidan EL AISSAMI MADDAH
- Tarek Willians SAAB HALABI
- Néstor Luis REVEROL TORRES
- Roy Antonio María CHADERTON MATOS
- María Iris VARELA RANGEL
- Pedro Miguel CARREÑO ESCOBAR
- Diosdado CABELLO RONDÓN
- Susana Virginia BARREIROS RODRÍGUEZ
- Freddy Alirio BERNAL ROSALES
- Delcy Eloína RODRÍGUEZ GÓMEZ
- Tania D’AMELIO CARDIET
- Aristóbulo ISTÚRIZ ALMEIDA
- Jorge Jesús RODRÍGUEZ GÓMEZ
- Francisco José AMELIACH ORTA
- Carlos Alfredo PÉREZ AMPUEDA
- Sergio José RIVERO MARCANO
- Jesús Rafael SUÁREZ CHOURIO
- Carmen Teresa MELÉNDEZ RIVAS
- Bladimir Humberto LUGO ARMAS
- Gustavo Enrique GONZÁLEZ LÓPEZ
- Elvis Eduardo HIDROBO AMOROSO
- Remigio CEBALLOS ICHASO
- Antonio José BENAVIDES TORRES
- Hermann Eduardo ESCARRÁ MALAVÉ
- Sandra OBLITAS RUZZA
- Socorro Elizabeth HERNÁNDEZ HERNÁNDEZ
- Maikel José MORENO PÉREZ
- Gladys María GUTIÉRREZ ALVARADO
- Juan José MENDOZA JOVER
- Luis Fernando DAMIANI BUSTILLOS
- Lourdes Benicia SUÁREZ ANDERSON
- Carmen Auxiliadora ZULETA DE MERCHÁN
- Arcadio de Jesús DELGADO ROSALES
- Calixto Antonio ORTEGA RÍOS
- Andrés Eloy MÉNDEZ GONZÁLEZ
- Manuel Enrique GALINDO BALLESTEROS
- Vladimir PADRINO LÓPEZ
