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US tightens financial sanctions on Venezuela following President Maduro’s controversial election victory

The United States has tightened financial sanctions against Venezuela following President Nicolas Maduro’s victory in Sunday’s election. In an order, US President Donald Trump has restricted Venezuela’s ability to liquidate state assets and debt in the US.

The sanctions include the sale, transfer, assignment, or pledging as collateral by the Venezuela government of any interest in any entity in which it has a 50 percent or greater ownership interest. President Trump also asked Maduro to restore democracy, hold free and fair elections, release all political prisoners and end the repression.

US had, earlier, slapped sanctions on Mr Maduro and his senior aides, as well as banned US companies from buying any more debt from Caracas or the state oil company.

Venezuelan President is also facing an international backlash after winning his second six-year term. In a joint statement at the G20 foreign ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires yesterday, six countries, including the US and Argentina said they did not recognize the election results which excluded the participation of key political players. Fourteen countries including Argentina, Brazil and Canada have recalled their ambassadors from Caracas in protest.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mr Maduro on his re-election. Mr Maduro had won 68 percent of votes more than three times as many as his main rival Henri Falcon in Sunday’s elections.

Source: AIR