OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five current or former senior Venezuelan government officials, saying the individuals were undermining democracy, a move rejected by Caracas, which called the move “illegal.”
Canada’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the sanctions “have been involved 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 Supreme Court, the Supreme Court.
“These illegal actions, directed against legitimate officials of our country, are nothing more than a failed attempt to put pressure on Venezuela,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement, adding that the action showed that Canada was “a slave to the imperial interests of the United States.” States.”
The court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
President Maduro and his government have consistently rejected the sanctions imposed by the United States and others, saying they are unlawful measures that amount to an “economic war” intended to paralyze Venezuela. Maduro and his allies have applauded the country’s resilience despite the measures, although they have historically attributed some economic hardships and shortages to sanctions.
Supreme Court justices (including Rodriguez) and election authorities have said Maduro won a third term in July’s disputed presidential elections.
Authorities have not released vote tallies at the ballot box level despite international requests to do so, and have rejected a September United Nations report criticizing the repression of the opposition.
The opposition has released ballot-level figures that it says show a resounding victory for its former 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 sanctioned by Canada are a Supreme Court justice, a member of the National Electoral Council, another judge and a prosecutor.
“Canada remains deeply concerned about the destabilizing and anti-democratic activities of the Maduro regime 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, over what Washington said was their role in suppressing post-election protests.
At least two dozen people were killed in the protests and about 2,000, including dozens of teenagers, were arrested.
Venezuela’s attorney general said Monday that 533 arrested protesters had been released, although rights groups said they could not verify all the releases.
