USA is preparing sanctions against Venezuelan government members



05/22/2019 9:58 AM


The United States is preparing sanctions and criminal cases against a number of members of the Venezuelan government. They are suspected of laundering money for Head of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and his cabinet ministers, Reuters interviewees, familiar with the situation, reported. According to their information, the Venezuelan food program CLAP, founded in April 2016, was used for laundering.



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The US National Security Council, the State Department, as well as the Department of Justice and Finance are involved in preparation of the sanctions. It is expected that restrictive measures will be taken in the next three months.

According to the UN, nearly a quarter of the 30 million Venezuelans need urgent help. About 3.7 million people in the country are depleted due to malnutrition, at least 22 percent of children less than 5 years old suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to a recent organization report.

In April, Maduro, after long refusals, announced his readiness to accept humanitarian assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross. On April 16, a plane loaded with urgently needed medical supplies and medical supplies landed at Caracas airport.

Venezuela is in a deep political and social crisis. Active political protests resumed in the country after Nicolas Maduro assumed presidency for a second term in January 2019. South American Parliament Speaker Juan Guaido declared himself interim president. Legitimacy of his leadership was recognized by more than 50 states of the world.

In April, the Venezuelan legislature, still acting on the side of Maduro, deprived Guaido of parliamentary immunity. In May, Head of Venezuela announced his intention to hold extraordinary parliamentary elections, but did not name any dates.

Earlier in May, the first negotiations on the Venezuelan conflict were held in Oslo with the mediation of the Norwegian government. Supporters of the interim president highlighted the lack of direct contacts between representatives of Maduro and Guaido.

source: dw.de


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