Trump issues warning to Maduro amid third term in Venezuela, US imposes additional sanctions.
The Treasury Department has boosted the reward to $25 million for any information resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Ahead of the inauguration of contested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, President-elect Donald Trump issued a warning.
The Venezuelan leader, who is labeled a "dictator" by American lawmakers, will remain in power until 2031 despite significant opposition to the July election in which he claimed victory without providing ballot-box proof.
On Thursday, María Corina Machado, the opposition leader, emerged from hiding to join hundreds of protesters in Caracas and demand that Edmundo González be sworn in as the opposition candidate.
In Venezuela, two Americans were arrested on the eve of Maduro's inauguration, accused of terrorism.
The Associated Press reported that Machado was briefly detained by government security forces after they "violently intercepted" her convoy as she tried to leave the protests.
Trump demanded that she remain "safe and alive" through social media.
"The Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and will of the Venezuelan people with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the regime. It is crucial that these freedom fighters are not harmed and remain safe and alive."
It is reported that the opposition figure was compelled to make multiple videos before being freed, but the specifics of those videos are not known.
Maduro’s supporters have reportedly denied that Machado was arrested.
The Biden administration supports the efforts of opposition leaders and Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes that President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia should be sworn in, marking the beginning of the democratic transition on Friday.
The secretary stated that the United States rejects the National Electoral Council's fraudulent announcement that Maduro won the presidential election and does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the president of Venezuela.
Blinken stated that the US is prepared to aid in the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on the Maduro regime in Venezuela on Friday, specifically targeting officials who lead key economic and security agencies that support Nicolás Maduro's repression and subversion of democracy in the country.
The statement by the department named eight officials in sanctions, including Hector Obregon, the head of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, and Ramon Velasquez, the nation's transportation minister.
OFAC is imposing sanctions on Venezuelan military and police officials who lead entities involved in Maduro's repression and human rights violations against democratic actors.
Washington imposed new sanctions on Maduro, and the reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction was increased to $25 million.
A $15 million reward was also offered for Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, in addition to the same amount for Venezuelan Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace, Diosdado Cabello.
Members of the military and police were also named in the sanctions.
On Friday, Blinken announced that over 2,000 individuals affiliated with Maduro had visa restrictions placed on them.
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