EU prepares sanctions against Venezuelan officials amid growing unrest

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a military parade for the transmission of National Guard command in Caracas
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a military parade for the transmission of National Guard command in Caracas Credit:  REUTERS

The European Union is preparing sanctions on several top Venezuelan officials amid mounting international fears over the political and economic crises that have plunged the country into violence and looting.

At least seven senior figures, including the country’s interior minister, Nestor Riverol, and the chief justice, Maikel Moreno, are set to be hit with asset freezes and travel bans as early as next week, according to reports. 

The EU move is aimed at raising pressure on the government of Nicolas Maduro to negotiate a solution to the crisis enveloping the oil-rich country, amid a deepening crackdown on the opposition and growing unrest among a population pushed to the brink by desperate shortages of food, cash and medicines.

“The government has crushed the opposition and is guilty of human rights abuses, so we believe it is time to send a strong message,” an EU diplomat involved in the sanctions talks told Reuters.

Several regions of Venezuela are suffering a wave of looting that has seen hungry mobs ransack businesses and, in one case in the state of Merida, slaughter cattle grazing in a field. At least seven people have been killed in the latest unrest, sparked by meat shortages at Christmas, which businesspeople fear could spread to the capital, Caracas.

A worker closes the security shutter of a window display at a shoes store in downtown Caracas,
A worker closes the security shutter of a window display at a shoes store in downtown Caracas, Credit: REUTERS/Marco Bello

The world’s highest inflation and a growing cash shortage has left long, often fruitless queues curling around banks and cashpoints.

Controversy is also swirling over a security operation that killed the fugitive ex-police officer Oscar Perez and fellow members of a group which last year stole a police helicopter and fired on the country’s Supreme Court. Mr Perez, who had published messages on the run urging Venezuelans to join an uprising, was one of several people killed in a shootout at his hide-out near Caracas earlier this week.

Human rights groups and international critics such as Marco Rubio, the US senator, suggested his death an extrajudicial execution after videos posted by Mr Perez during the operation appeared to show him negotiating his surrender.

Women related to men who fought alongside the late, rebel police officer Oscar Perez wait for their loved ones' bodies to be turned over, outside the morgue in Caracas
Women related to men who fought alongside the late, rebel police officer Oscar Perez wait for their loved ones' bodies to be turned over, outside the morgue in Caracas Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano

Publishing its annual report Thursday, the US-based Human Rights Watch said Mr Maduro was an “incompetent autocrat” who “continued destroying Venezuelan democracy and the economy” and using “violent repression” to stay in power. International pressure was the only hope, the group said.

The Maduro government and opposition have been holding talks in the Dominican Republic but have so far made little progress. The opposition is calling for the release of several hundred jailed political activists, guarantees over the presidential election due this year and access for international humanitarian assistance. Government demands include that the opposition use its influence in Washington to push for an end to sanctions.

Members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) patrol Caracas as an operation to capture Oscar Perez
Members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) patrol Caracas as an operation to capture Oscar Perez Credit: JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images

The United States imposed sanctions last year against dozens of high-ranking officials, including Mr Maduro himself, in response to government moves to circumvent the opposition-controlled national assembly and abuses by security forces during violent protests against the power grab.

Last week, Venezuela’s foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, accused Washington of directing the EU to “attack” his country following a visit to Europe from Thomas Shannon, the US under-secretary of state for political affairs. Speaking in Madrid on Friday, Mr Shannon had said the US was preparing a fresh round of sanctions against the Maduro government in order to push the government to negotiate. 

Mr Arreaza alleged Mr Shannon had come to “give direct orders to the European Union to continue attacking Venezuela”, adding: "It would be sad if the EU continues to submit to Donald Trump's interventionist, racist and warmongering opinions.”

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