CARACAS, Venezuela — On Tuesday, Canada introduced economic sanctions targeting five officials in Venezuela, including the head of the nation’s Supreme Court, over accusations of electoral fraud tied to the contentious presidential election held in July.
Both the current President Nicolás Maduro and the political opposition, represented by Edmundo González—who is currently in exile in Spain—and Maria Corina Machado, who remains hidden in Venezuela, are claiming victories in the election held on July 28.
The announcement by Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mélanie Joly, marks the fourth round of sanctions imposed by Canada against those associated with Maduro’s administration.
In response, Maduro’s government condemned these sanctions, labeling them as “extortionate measures” and “a fruitless attempt to coerce Venezuela.”
This announcement arrives less than a month before the next presidential term in Venezuela is scheduled to commence.
According to a statement from Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sanctions are intended to amplify pressure on Venezuela’s ruling authorities to “honor the will of the Venezuelan people.”
Furthermore, the sanctions aim to discourage authorities from further actions that infringe upon the rights of protestors, journalists, opposition members, and other segments of civil society.
Among those sanctioned is Caryslia Rodríguez, who leads Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, along with two judges, a prosecutor, and a member of the national electoral organization.
The political turmoil in Venezuela has intensified since the much-anticipated presidential election. The National Electoral Council, filled with Maduro’s allies, announced his victory shortly after the polls closed.
However, in contrast to prior elections, detailed vote counts were not made public this time.
Meanwhile, the opposition, spearheaded by Machado, gathered records from 80% of the electronic voting machines across the country and shared them publicly, asserting that the data indicated González had actually won with double the votes compared to Maduro.
The widespread global outrage over the absence of transparency in the electoral process led Maduro to request an audit of the results from the Supreme Court, which is also composed primarily of ruling-party loyalists and headed by Rodríguez.
Eventually, the court confirmed his victory.
Joly emphasized the significance of the sanctions, stating, “Today’s sanctions send a formidable message: Canada will not remain passive while the Maduro regime disregards the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan populace.”
She stressed the need for a peaceful, negotiated solution rooted in Venezuelan leadership to address the ongoing crisis.