Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/901 of 25 June 2018 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela
Date: 2018-06-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Venezuela, economic sanctions, election monitoring, international sanctions, natural person, presidential election








LI2018160EN.01001201.xml










25.6.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


LI 160/12








            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/901
of 25 June 2018
         
amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty n European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,


Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (1),


Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:







(1)


On 13 November 2017, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074.












(2)


On 28 May 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on Venezuela stating that the elections held in Venezuela on 20 May 2018 were neither free nor fair and that the election and its outcome lacked any credibility as the electoral process did not ensure the necessary guarantees for inclusive and democratic elections.












(3)


The conclusions called for the holding of fresh presidential elections in accordance with internationally recognised democratic standards and the Venezuelan constitutional order, and, in that context, for additional targeted and reversible restrictive measures that do not harm the Venezuelan population.












(4)


In view of the situation in Venezuela, 11 persons should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074.












(5)


Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




Done at Luxembourg, 25 June 2018.


For the Council


The President

F. MOGHERINI
            





(1)  
            OJ L 295, 14.11.2017, p. 60.




ANNEX
The following persons are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074:










 


‘Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




8.


Tareck Zaidan El-Aissami Maddah


Vice President of Economy and Minister for National Industry and Production
Date of birth: 12 November 1974


Vice President of Economy and Minister for National Industry and Production. As the former Vice President of Venezuela with oversight of the direction of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) Maddah is responsible for the serious human rights violations carried out by the organisation, including arbitrary detention, politically motivated investigations, inhumane and degrading treatment, and torture. He is also responsible for supporting and implementing policies and activities which undermine democracy and the rule of law, including the prohibition of public demonstrations, and heading President Maduro's “anti-coup command” which has targeted civil society and the democratic opposition.


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9.


Sergio José Rivero Marcano


Inspector General of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces
Date of birth: 8 November 1964


General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard until 16 January 2018. Involved in the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Venezuela, and responsible for serious human rights violations committed by the Bolivarian National Guard under his command, including the excessive use of force, and the arbitrary detention and abuse of civil society and opposition members. His actions and policies as General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard, including the Bolivarian National Guard assaulting members of the democratically elected National Assembly and intimidating journalists reporting on the fraudulent elections for the illegitimate Constituent Assembly, have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.


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10.


Jesús Rafael Suárez Chourio


General Commander of the Bolivarian Army
Date of birth: 19 July 1962


General Commander of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army and former Commander of Venezuela's Comprehensive Defence Region of the Central Zone (REDI Central). Responsible for human rights violations by forces under his command, including the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees. Has targeted the democratic opposition and supported the use of military courts to try civilian protestors.


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11.


Iván Hernández Dala


Head of Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence
Date of birth: 18 May 1966


Head of the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCIM) since January 2014 and Head of the Presidential Guard since September 2015. As Head of the DGCIM, Iván Hernández Dala is responsible for serious human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition committed by members of the DGCIM under his command, including excessive use of force and the ill-treatment of detainees.


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12.


Delcy Eloina Rodríguez Gómez


Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Date of birth: 18 May 1969


Vice President of Venezuela, former President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and former member of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Her actions on the Presidential Commission and then as President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including usurping the powers of the National Assembly and using them to target the opposition and prevent them taking part in the political process.


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13.


Elías José Jaua Milano


Minister of Popular Power for Education
Date of birth: 16 December 1969


Minister of Popular Power for Education. Former President of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela through his role in leading the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly.


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14.


Sandra Oblitas Ruzza


Vice President of National Electoral Council
Date of birth: 7 June 1969


Vice President of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and President of the Commission of the Electoral and Civilian Register. Responsible for the CNE's activities which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and manipulation of the electoral process.


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15.


Freddy Alirio Bernal Rosales


Date of birth: 16 June 1962


Head of the National Control Centre of the Committee for Local Supply and Production (CLAP) and Commissioner General of SEBIN. Responsible for undermining democracy through manipulation of CLAP programme distributions amongst voters. Additionally, as Commissioner General of SEBIN, he is responsible for SEBIN's activities which include serious human rights violations such as arbitrary detention.


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16.


Katherine Nayarith Harrington Padrón


Deputy Prosecutor General (also translated as Deputy Attorney General)
Date of birth: 5 December 1971


Deputy Prosecutor General (also translated as Deputy Attorney General) since July 2017. Appointed Deputy Prosecutor General by the Supreme Court in violation of the Constitution, rather than by the National Assembly. Responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by initiating politically-motivated prosecutions and failing to investigate allegations of human rights violations by the Maduro regime.


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17.


Socorro Elizabeth Hernández Hernández


Date of birth: 11 March 1952


Member (Rector) of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and member of the National Electoral Board (JNE). Responsible for the CNE's activities which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and manipulation of the electoral process in relation to a cancelled presidential recall election in 2016, postponement of gubernatorial elections in 2016, and the relocation of polling stations at short notice before gubernatorial elections in 2017.


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18.


Xavier Antonio Moreno Reyes


Secretary-General of the National Electoral Council


Secretary-General of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Responsible for approving CNE decisions which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and manipulation of the electoral process.


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