The US Imposes Sanctions On Venezuela's First Lady Cilia Flores

The United States Of America on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, imposed sanctions on Venezuela's first lady and former Attorney General Cilia Adela Flores De Maduro. Besides her, the US also imposed sanctions on executive Vice president of Venezuela, Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez, Minister of Communication and information Jorge Jesus Rodriguez Gomez and Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez. 

In addition, the US has designated additional individuals and entities that are part of a network supporting Rafael Alfredo Sarria Diaz, a key front person for sanctioned Venezuelan President of the illegitimate constituent Assembly, Diosdada Cabello Rondon, said a statement issued by the US Department of the State.

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The US designated both Sarria Diaz and Cabello on May 18, 2018. The individuals sanctioned that form the part of the network associated with Rafale Alfredo Sarria Diaz are: Jose Omar Paredes and Edgar Alberto Sarria Diaz. 

As a result of the action which was taken on September 25, 2018, all properties and interests in property of these individuals and entities that are in the US or in the possession or control of the US persons must be blocked and reported to Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  

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OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealings by the US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of a designated person. The US sanctions need to be permanent they are intended to change behavior. The US would consider lifting sanctions for persons sanctioned under E.O 13692 that take concrete and meaningful actions to restore democratic order, refuse to take part in human rights abuses and speak out against abuses committed by the government, and combat corruption in Venezuela. 

The US will continue to use the full weight of American economic and diplomatic power to help and create the conditions for the restoration of democracy for the Venezuelan people, said the official statement.