US sanctions 16 allies of Venezuela’s president over accusations of obstructing the election

WASHINGTON — The US government responded to Venezuela’s call on Thursday disputed presidential election in July Through impose sanctions against 16 allies of President Nicolás Maduro, accusing them of obstructing the elections and committing human rights violations.

Those targeted by the Treasury Department include the head of the country’s Supreme Court, leaders of state security services and prosecutors. The move came days after the departure into exile of Edmundo González Urrutiathe former diplomat who represented the main opposition parties and claimed to have won the July 28 presidential election by a large margin.

Venezuelan electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner hours after polls closed, but unlike previous elections, they never released detailed vote tallies to back up their claim. Global condemnation of the lack of transparency prompted Maduro to ask Venezuela’s Supreme Court, packed with ruling party loyalists, to audit the results.

The court upheld his victory.

Experts from the United Nations and the Carter Center, which observed the elections at the invitation of Maduro’s government, concluded that the results announced by election authorities were not credible.