The United States Department of the Treasury issued a new set of sanctions today against two individuals connected to the Maduro regime: Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza, and a judge named Carol Padilla.
The news came via a press release from Treasury Department.,which states that the sanctions will seize any property that Arreaza and Carol may have in the United States. In the language of the press release:
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of these individuals, and any entity that is owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by the designated individuals, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.
Judge Padilla is currently overseeing the trials of several victims of political persecution, including Fernando Alban, Roberto Marrero, Juan Requesens and Julio Borges.
Arreaza reacted to news of the sanctions by relying on an established regime line, which sees sanctions as a sign that the targeted individual is doing something right:
There are reactions that confirm that we’re heading down the right path and give us more STRENGTH to fight. Yesterday at the United Nations we irrefutably denounced the U.S.’ criminal blockade against Venezuela. Today the Trump administration has responded with desperation against us. The truth hurts them!
Guaido Visits Aragua Despite Road Closures
Official state authorities and pro-government civilians blocked roads in Maracay, Aragua state today in an attempt to stop Juan Guaido from holding a rally there.
The image below shows a group of pro-government civilians in the Plaza Bicentenaria, where the rally was supposed to take place. These groups are commonly known as colectivos armados (“armed groups”), and they often act to intimidate opposition supporters from attending political events:
Despite the authorities’ efforts, the rally took place as scheduled. Below, images from the event:
UNHCR Confirms 21 Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed that 21 people are missing after a boat carrying Venezuelan migrants to Trinidad & Tobago capsized on Wednesday morning.
Speaking at a press conference from Geneva, a spokesperson for the UNHCR named Babar Baloch said:
This tragic incident highlights the extreme risks of maritime [migratory travel] as well as other kinds of irregular cross border crossings. It also highlights the desperation of those who are forced to flee their homes, and the extraordinary difficulties that they face in their travels.
News of the boat’s capsizing first broke yesterday.
The Maduro regime has yet to issue any kind of statement on the event.
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