About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (October 30, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdchv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions For more than a decade, the United States has imposed s anctions in response to activities of the Venezuelan government and Venezuelan individuals. In response to the authoritarian leadershipofNicolds Maduro, the Trump Administration has significantly expanded sanctions. As of October 30,2020, the Treasury Departmenthas imposed sanctions onroughly 159 Venezuelan or Venezuelan- connected individuals, and the State Departmenthas revoked the visas of more than 1,000 individuals andtheir families. The Trump Administration also has imposed s anctions on Venezuela's state oil company (Petr6leos de Venezuela, S.A., or PdVSA), government, and centralbank Sanctions have increased economic pressure on the Maduio government, accelerating a decline in oil production. Nevertheless, Maduro remains in power almost two years since the United States ceased to recognize his presidency. The Trump Administration has promised continued support to National As sembly President Juan Guaid6, whomthe United States and 57 governments recognize as interim president of Venezuela. In 2020, Treasury has sanctioned two subsidiaries of the Russian state-controlled Rosneft Oil Company for facilitating Venezuelan oil exports and four shipping companies for transporting Venezuelan oil. Terrrs m latEd~ Santios Since 2006, the Secretary of State has made an annual determination that Venezuela is not cooperating fully with United States anti-terrorismefforts pursuantto Section 40A of the Arms Export ControlAct (22U.S.C. 2781). The most recent determination was made in May 2020. As a result, the United States has prohibited all U.S. commercial arms s ales and retransfers to Venezuela since 2006. In 2008, Treasury imposed financial sanctions on two individuals and two travel agencies in Venezuela for financially supporting the radical Lebanon-based Islamic Shiite group Hezbollah. Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, those sanctions relate to terrorist funding. Dru Traffi ckn2'elted SactIs>ns Since 2005, pursuant to procedures in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, FY2003 (P.L. 107-228, §706; 22 U.S.C. 2291j), the President has made an annual determination that Venezuela has failed demonstrably to adhere to its obligations under internationaln arcotics agreements. President Trump made themost recentdetermination for FY2020 in August2019but waived foreign aid restrictions for programs that support the interimgovernment. Treasury has imposed economic sanctions on at least 22 individuals with connections to Venezuela and 27 companies by designating themas Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (P.L. 106-120, Title VIII; 21 Updated October 30,2020 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.). Designated individuals include cunent and former Venezuelan officials, such as then-Vice President TareckelAissamiand Pedro Luis Martin (a former senior intelligence official) and two associates. Ac tions, nuan igts~ V olations,> and Corru ption In response to increasing repressionin Venezuela, Congirss enacted the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of2014(P.L. 113-278; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) in 2014. Among its provisions, the law requires the President to impose sanctions (assetblocking andvisa restrictions) against those whomthe President identifies as responsible for significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses or anyone who has ordered the arrest or prosecution of a person because o fthe person's legitimate exercise of freedomof expres s ion or as sembly. Congress extended this act through 2019in P.L. 114-194. In December2019, Congress extended this act through 2023 in P.L. 116-94. In March 2015, President Obama issued E.O. 13692 to implement P.L. 113-278, and Treasury is sued regulations in July 2015 (31 C.F.R. Part 591). The E.O. targets (for as s et blocking and vis ares trictions) those involved in actions or policies undermining democratic processes or institutions; serious human rights abuses; prohibiting, limiting, or penalizing freedomof expres s ion or peaceful as sembly; and public corruption. It includes any person who is acurrent or former leader of any entity engaged in any of those activities, as well as current or forner government officials. As of October 30, 2020, Treasuryhas imposed financial sanctions on 109 Venezuelans pursuant to E.O. 13692. Under the Obama Administration, Treasury froze the as sets of seven Venezuelan officials responsible for repressing protestors. During the Trump Administration, Treasury has imposed sanctions on an additional 102 Venezuelan officials, including PresidentMaduro;his wife,Cecilia Flores, and son, Nicolds Maduro Guerra. Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez; Dios dado Cabello (Socialist party president); eight supreme court judges; the leaders of Venezuela's army,national guard, andnational police; governors; the director of the central bank; and the foreign minister also are sanctioned. In May 2019, Treasury lifted sanctions against the former headofVenezuela's intelligence service, General Manuel Cris topher Figuera, who broke ranks with Maduro. On September 4,2020, Treasury imposed sanctions on officials involved in convening a fraudulent legislative election on December 6, 2020, which the opposition is boycotting. On September 22, the agency sanctioned five individuals, including several Maduro-alignedpoliticians who have soughtto take over major opposition parties.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most