US drafts sanctions against Venezuelans over disputed vote

The US is laying the groundwork for new sanctions on Venezuelan government officials in response to Nicolás Maduro’s disputed reelection in July, Report informs referring to Bloomberg.

The Treasury Department is close to announcing 15 individual sanctions on Maduro-affiliated officials who it claims “obstructed the holding of free and fair presidential elections,” according to documents seen by Bloomberg.

Additionally, the State Department plans to impose visa restrictions on 34 relatives of government officials, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly.

The measures target key leaders the US says collaborated with Maduro to undermine the July 28 vote, a list that includes members of the electoral authority, Venezuela’s top court, the National Assembly and the intelligence and military intelligence police, known as SEBIN and DGCIM. The plans could be announced as soon as this week and could change before they’re finalized.