The United States lifted some sanctions in October after Maduro’s government and the Venezuelan opposition, known as the Unity Platform, agreed on an election plan in Barbados. Maduro has stipulated that all candidates be given freedom of movement and assembly, and equal access to the media.
But Maduro is acting as if the agreement never existed. In June, the government banned former conservative lawmaker Maria Colina Machado, who leads the opposition party, from running in an unofficial primary. On January 26, the regime-led Supreme Court rejected her appeal to reinstate her. As the State Department pointed out, the process was a farce. “Machado did not receive a copy of the allegations against her nor was she given an opportunity to respond to them.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 18 called on Maduro to “develop a concrete timeline and process for the early return of all candidates.” Blinken also said Venezuela should begin releasing “all unjustly detained American and Venezuelan political prisoners.” In December, Maduro released 20 Americans, including political prisoners, and brought fugitive defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis to the United States in exchange for a Venezuelan held in the United States on corruption charges. I returned it. However, Maduro has largely failed to comply with demands from all political candidates to return.
Instead, he carried out new repressions. On Friday, authorities arrested Rocio San Miguel, 57, a human rights activist, outspoken critic of the regime, and expert in the Venezuelan military. She heads Control Ciudadano, a non-governmental organization that advocates civilian control of the military. San Miguel and his daughter were detained at the Caracas airport and their whereabouts are unknown.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab announced: statement San Miguel was arrested on charges of conspiracy and treason for his role in a plot against Maduro and other officials, the statement said, but no evidence or details were provided. her former partner Alejandro Gonzalez was charged with revealing military secrets. Four others, including her daughter, were reportedly detained but released.
The regime has in recent weeks brought similar charges against at least 33 people, including members of the democratic opposition, civil society, former military officials and journalists, for plotting against Mr. Maduro. Marta Baliñas, head of the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission to Venezuela, said the arrests “appear to be part of a systematic plan to silence critics and perceived opponents.” More than 200 civil society organizations in Venezuela issued a statement condemning San Miguel’s “arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance” and calling for his release. Venezuela on Thursday ordered the local UN human rights office to cease operations and gave its staff 72 hours to leave the country. Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said the office was being used by the international community “to maintain the narrative” against Venezuela.
After the government first aired the collusion charges, Maduro appeared on state television and declared: “The Barbados agreement is mortally wounded. They have been stabbed, kicked, and are in intensive care.” He added: “I hope that we can proceed with a dialogue to achieve a major national agreement, without plotting to assassinate me, to assassinate us, to spread violence in the country, by upholding the Barbados Agreement.” I hope,” he added.
But Mr. Maduro has indicated he has no intention of tolerating any real competition in this year’s elections.
Mr. Blinken’s comments in October were clear. “Failure to comply with the terms of this deal will result in the United States reversing the measures we have taken,” he said. The United States has issued a six-month permit to Venezuela to export oil and gas, largely lifting sanctions. The license expires on April 18, but the Biden administration has said it will decide what to do next. The Treasury Department said it would maintain the sanctions relief “only if President Maduro’s representatives honor their commitments and take continued concrete steps toward democratic elections by the end of 2024.”
Biden could rescind previous sanctions or impose new ones. The only thing the United States cannot do is turn a blind eye while Mr. Maduro shatters democracy.