US slaps fresh sanctions against Venezuelan govt.
The United States has imposed fresh sanctions against the Venezuelan government, now targeting a state-owned mining company.
The US Treasury Department on Tuesday slapped sanctions on Minerven, whose full name is Compania General de Mineria de Venezuela CA, and its president, Adrian Antonio Perdomo Mata, charging that illicit gold operations by the firm were being used to prop up President Nicolas Maduro and others.
"Treasury is targeting gold processor Minerven and its president for propping up the inner circle of the corrupt Maduro regime," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement announcing the action.
Minerven is now designated under the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the firm's property and assets in the US are blocked, and any US citizens dealing with the company could face court punishment.
Prior to this the Venezuelan oil sector, financial sector and money exchange business had been targeted by the US Treasury in support of the opposition forces aiming to topple the Caracas government..
Meanwhile, the Venezuela is in the midst of a political crisis.
The turmoil began in late January after opposition politician and president of the defunct National Assembly Juan Guaido abruptly declared himself “interim president” of Venezuela, challenging the outcome of last year’s presidential election, in which Maduro emerged victorious.
Guaido’s bid was soon recognized by the US followed by dozens of its regional and European allies.
Maduro says the US aims to topple the Latin American country’s leftist government.
Analysts say Washington has been pursuing “regime change” in Venezuela since the late socialist President Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999.
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