Canada imposes new sanctions against Venezuelan officials involved in human rights violations
News release
January 10, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions against certain Venezuelan officials under the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations.
These sanctions target 14 current and former senior officials of the Venezuelan government who have engaged in activities that have directly or indirectly supported human rights violations in Venezuela. These include ongoing violations and the repression of protests following the illegitimate election of Nicolás Maduro to the Venezuelan presidency in July 2024. These widespread human rights violations were part of a targeted effort by the Maduro regime to silence and intimidate those who demanded transparency and free and fair elections in Venezuela.
Today’s sanctions coincide with measures taken this week by Canada’s allies, including the United States, United Kingdom and European Union, and demonstrate a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people. They also contribute to ongoing international efforts to uphold human rights in Venezuela and maintain pressure on the Maduro regime.
On July 28, 2024, large numbers of the Venezuelan people voted peacefully for change. Credible evidence provided by official vote tally sheets that were made public after the election and the assessments of independent observers concluded that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes and won the election by a significant margin.
In the spirit of respecting the democratic will of the Venezuelan people, Canada formally recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as president-elect of Venezuela yesterday.
Canada calls on the Maduro regime to honour the democratic will of the Venezuelan people and allow for a peaceful transition process that respects human rights. Canada reiterates that a peaceful, negotiated and Venezuelan-led solution is needed to resolve this crisis.
Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Venezuela and across the region.
Quotes
“Maduro’s shameless actions demonstrate that democracy and the rule of law cannot be taken for granted. We will not tolerate the erosion of the democratic process or the repression of citizens seeking to express their rights. Canada has stood by, and will continue to stand by, the people of Venezuela and their desire to live in a peaceful and democratic society.”
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
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With today’s announcement, Canada has imposed sanctions against a total of 131 Venezuelan individuals.
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As part of Canada’s foreign policy response to the situation in Venezuela, Canada has imposed five rounds of targeted sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations on individuals in and linked to the Maduro regime:
- In September 2017, Canada imposed sanctions against 40 individuals linked to the Maduro regime and involved in the regime’s actions that destabilized the security, stability and integrity of democratic institutions in Venezuela
- In May 2018, Canada imposed sanctions against an additional 14 individuals in response to further erosion of democratic institutions in Venezuela and the consolidation of President Maduro’s power through illegitimate presidential elections held on May 20, 2018
- In April 2019, Canada imposed sanctions against an additional 43 individuals, most of them high-level officials of the Maduro regime implicated in acts of repression
- In December 2024, Canada imposed sanctions against five individuals who have engaged in activities that have directly or indirectly undermined democracy in Venezuela
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In addition to the sanctions imposed under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), Canada imposed sanctions under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act in 2017 against 19 individuals who were responsible for or complicit in gross violations of human rights or who had committed acts of significant corruption.
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