U.S., U.K., and EU Strengthen Venezuela Sanctions on Maduro's inauguration... "Taking Power through Fraudulent Presidential Election"

The West, including the United States, the European Union, and the EU, has stepped up sanctions against the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro, who began his third term, citing illegal power grabs and civilian oppression.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control says it will enforce sanctions on eight officials of economic and security agencies that threaten Venezuelan democracy under relevant regulations.The U.S. Treasury Department
said Maduro and his aides have continued to crack down on opposition supporters in Venezuela since the presidential election in July last year, adding, "The U.S. rejects Maduro's victory in fraudulent presidential elections."

The Biden administration has frequently sanctioned key Venezuelan officials, including military police and military counterintelligence command, involved in arresting or detaining local residents who have raised questions about Venezuela's unfair counting.

Britain's Foreign Ministry also condemned Maduro's extension as a "fraud" and decided to sanction 15 people, including Venezuela's chief justice, for undermining democracy and the rule of law by announcing the results of unfair presidential vote counting and human rights violations in the protesters' crackdown process.

The EU has also imposed sanctions on 15 people, including Venezuela's election commissioner, accusing Maduro of "lacking all democratic legitimacy."

Venezuela's Maduro government has strongly rejected Western sanctions.

Maduro said the sanctions are "crushing Venezuela economically, destroying the lives of its residents," adding that the economic crisis is deepening.

According to the Associated Press, Venezuelan intelligence and investigation authorities have recently detained foreigners, including Americans, for "terrorist plotting," and some analysts say the Maduro government could negotiate the lifting of sanctions as hostages.