The U.S. government is offering a $25 million reward for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro after the Venezuelan leader was sworn in for a third term following a highly questionable election.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced a slew of sanctions against Maduro and his closest associates on Friday, citing widespread repression, human rights abuses, and evidence that the president’s electoral victory was manufactured.
“The Department of State is increasing the reward offers to up to $25 million each for information leading to the arrest and/or convictions of Maduro and Maduro’s named Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace Diosdado Cabello, as well as adding a new reward of up to $15 million for Maduro’s named Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino,” the Treasury announced Friday.
The announcement continued, “The Department of State also imposed new visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 9931 on Maduro-aligned officials who have undermined the electoral process in Venezuela and are responsible for acts of repression.”
Maduro was sworn into his third presidential term Friday at the legislative palace in Caracas. The streets surrounding the palace were filled with supporters and demonstrators as Maduro began a term that will last until 2031.
Venezuelan opposition activists said voting data collected from approximately 80% of machines used in the July election show their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received twice as many votes as Maduro.
Maduro and the ruling government ignored these accusations and pushed the president as the legitimate victor within hours of polls closing. Election authorities never released final vote tallies.
“Since last year’s election, Maduro and his associates have continued their repressive actions in Venezuela,” said Bradley Smith, acting undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “The United States, together with our like-minded partners, stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people’s vote for new leadership and rejects Maduro’s fraudulent claim of victory.”
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado came out of hiding to attend a protest against Maduro on Thursday. She was “violently intercepted” by government forces and detained, according to aides.
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Machado was released after several hours. Her team said “during the period of her kidnapping,” the opposition leader was “forced to record several videos and was later released.”
“I am now in a safe place and more determined than ever before to continue with you UNTIL THE END! Tomorrow I will tell you what happened today and what is coming,” Machado wrote on social media following her abduction. “I have never felt so proud to be Venezuelan. Thank you, thank you, to all the citizens who took to the streets to claim our victory on July 28th and to OWN IT!”
