Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2201 of 10 November 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela
Date: 2022-11-10
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Venezuela, economic sanctions, international sanctions, natural person








L_2022292EN.01006101.xml










11.11.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 292/61








            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/2201
of 10 November 2022
         
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 on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,


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 (1), concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela.












(2)


On 11 November 2021, the Council, considering the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and the persistent actions undermining democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/1965 (2) which renewed the restrictive measures in place until 14 November 2022, including all designations.












(3)


The Council has reviewed the restrictive measures in place in accordance with Article 13 of Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074. Based on that review, the restrictive measures, including all designations, should be renewed until 14 November 2023, and the statement of reasons for 17 persons should be updated.












(4)


These measures do not affect the general population and can be reversed in light of progress made towards the restoration of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Venezuela.












(5)


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





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 is amended as follows:






(1)


the first paragraph of Article 13 is replaced by the following:

                              ‘This Decision shall apply until 14 November 2023.’;










(2)


Annex I is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.






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




Done at Brussels, 10 November 2022.


For the Council


The President

M. BEK
            





(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L 295, 14.11.2017, p. 60).

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1965 of 11 November 2021 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L 400, 12.11.2021, p. 148).




ANNEX
In Annex I to Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074, the entries concerning the persons listed below are replaced by the following entries:










 


Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




‘3.


Tibisay LUCENA RAMÍREZ


Date of birth: 26 April 1959
Gender: female


Minister of University Education since October 2021. President of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral or CNE) from April 2006 until June 2020. Her actions and policies have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by failing to ensure that the CNE remains an impartial and independent institution in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution, thereby facilitating the establishment of the Constituent Assembly and the re-election of Nicolás Maduro in May 2018 through presidential elections that were neither free nor fair.


22.1.2018




5.


Maikel José MORENO PÉREZ


Date of birth: 12 December 1965
Gender: male


Judge of the Criminal Appeal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Venezuela (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)). Former President and Vice President of the Supreme Court. In those roles, he has supported and facilitated the Government’s actions and policies which have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and is responsible for actions and statements that have usurped the authority of the National Assembly, including the appointment of the National Electoral Council (CNE) in June 2020 and the suspension and replacement of the leadership of three opposition parties in June and July 2020.


22.1.2018




15.


Freddy Alirio BERNAL ROSALES


Date of birth: 16 June 1962
Place of birth: San Cristóbal, Táchira State, Venezuela
Gender: male


Governor of Táchira State since winning the elections in November 2021. Former Head of the National Control Centre of the Committee for Local Supply and Production (CLAP) and former Protector of Táchira State. Also a Commissioner General of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). As Head of the CLAP and Protector of Táchira State he was able to call upon Special Forces (FAES) and to influence appointments of judges and prosecutors. 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.


25.6.2018




22.


Alexis Enrique ESCALONA MARRERO


Date of birth: 12 October 1962
Gender: male


Chief in Charge of the National Office Against Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing (ONDOFT) from January 2018 until May 2019. Retired Major General, former Vice Minister for prevention and public safety at the Ministry of the Interior (appointed in 2017 by President Maduro) and former National Commander of the National Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Command (Comando Nacional Antiextorsión y Secuestro (CONAS)) (between 2014 and 2017). Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees by members of CONAS under his command. Also responsible for the repression of civil society by members of CONAS under his command.


27.9.2019




27.


Gladys DEL VALLE REQUENA


Date of birth: 9 November 1952
Place of birth: Puerto Santo, Sucre, Venezuela
ID number: V-4114842
Gender: female


Inspector General of the Courts since 27 April 2022. Former member of the non-democratically elected National Assembly and former member and the Second Vice-President of the non-recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC). In her leading role in the non-recognised ANC, she has undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by signing the decree that stripped the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, of his parliamentary immunity.


29.6.2020




30.


Juan José MENDOZA JOVER


Date of birth: 11 March 1969
Place of birth: Trujillo, Venezuela
Address: Arnoldo Gabaldón, Candelaria, Edo. Trujillo
ID number: V-9499372
Gender: male


Former Second Vice-President of the Venezuelan Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) and former President of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (February 2017 – April 2022). His actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by a number of judicial rulings in the past two years that have limited or undermined the constitutional powers of Venezuela’s democratically-elected legislative body, the National Assembly.


29.6.2020




37.


Remigio CEBALLOS ICHASO


Date of birth: 1 May 1963
ID-number: V-6557495
Gender: male


Since August 2021, Minister of the Interior and Justice of Venezuela and Vice-President of the Government for Citizen Security. Former Commander of the Operational and Strategic Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela (Comando Estratégico Operacional Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales Bolivarianas (CEOFANB)), the highest organ in the Venezuelan Armed Forces (June 2017–July 2021). CEOFANB controls the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and the Bolivarian National Guard. CEOFANB is also responsible for coordinating FANB interventions in demonstrations. In his position as Commander of CEOFANB, he was responsible for serious human rights violations, including the use of excessive force and inhuman and degrading treatment by officials of the FANB and by subordinate forces under his command, including the Bolivarian National Guard. Various sources, including the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, attribute human rights violations to FANB and the Bolivarian National Guard.


22.2.2021




38.


Omar José PRIETO FERNÁNDEZ


Date of birth: 25 May 1969
ID number: V-9761075
Gender: male


Former Governor of Zulia State (2017 - 2021). In this position he has undermined democracy and the rule of law in Zulia State. He was sworn in by the non-recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC), after the legitimate winner of the election refused to be sworn in by the ANC. Omar José Prieto Fernández actively promoted the non-democratic elections for the National Assembly which took place on 6 December 2020. Moreover, in Zulia State he threatened opposition leaders with ‘house visits’ and stated to declare Zulia State independent should an interim government lead by Juan Guaidó assume power.


22.2.2021




42.


Lourdes Benicia SUÁREZ ANDERSON


Date of birth: 7 March 1965
Gender: female


Judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) since December 2005 and Vice President of the Constitutional Chamber since April 2022. Former President of the Constitutional Chamber and former first Vice-President of the Supreme Court. As a member of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, she is responsible for actions, statements and rulings that have usurped the constitutional powers of the National Assembly and undermined the opposition’s electoral rights including the unilateral appointment by the Supreme Court of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) in June 2020 and the suspension and unilateral replacement of the leadership of three of the main democratic opposition parties in June and July 2020, as well as the extension of the ruling on Acción Democrática for one more year in May 2021. Her actions have therefore undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and she has supported and facilitated the undermining of democracy and the rule of law by the executive branch.


22.2.2021




44.


René Alberto DEGRAVES ALMARZA


Gender: male


Substitute judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) since April 2022. Former judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court. As a member of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, he has been responsible for actions, statements and rulings that have usurped the constitutional powers of the National Assembly and undermined the opposition’s electoral rights including the unilateral appointment by the Supreme Court of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) in June 2020 and the suspension and unilateral replacement of the leadership of three of the main democratic opposition parties in June and July 2020, as well as the extension of the ruling on Acción Democrática for one more year in May 2021. His actions have therefore undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and he has supported and facilitated the undermining of democracy and the rule of law by the executive branch.


22.2.2021




45.


Arcadio DELGADO ROSALES


Date of birth: 23 September 1954
Gender: male


Former judge and Vice-President of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)). As a member of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, he has been responsible for actions, statements and rulings that have usurped the constitutional powers of the National Assembly and undermined the opposition’s electoral rights, including the unilateral appointment by the Supreme Court of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) in June 2020 and the suspension and unilateral replacement of the leadership of three of the main democratic opposition parties in June and July 2020, as well as the extension of the ruling on Acción Democrática for one more year in May 2021. His actions have therefore undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and he has supported and facilitated the undermining of democracy and the rule of law by the executive branch.


22.2.2021




46.


Carmen Auxiliadora ZULETA DE MERCHÁN


Date of birth: 13 December 1947
Gender: female


Former judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)). As a member of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, she has been responsible for actions, statements and rulings that have usurped the constitutional powers of the National Assembly and undermined the opposition’s electoral rights including the unilateral appointment by the Supreme Court of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) in June 2020 and the suspension and unilateral replacement of the leadership of three of the main democratic opposition parties in June and July 2020, as well as the extension of the ruling on Acción Democrática for one more year in May 2021. Her actions have therefore undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and she has supported and facilitated the undermining of democracy and the rule of law by the executive branch.


22.2.2021




47.


Indira Maira ALFONZO IZAGUIRRE


Date of birth: 29 April 1968
Place of birth: La Guaira, La Guaira State, Venezuela
ID-number: V-6978710
Gender: female


Former President of the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)). Former chairwoman of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)), appointed on 13 June 2020. Former member of the Electoral Chamber and Plenary Chamber of the Supreme Court, Second Vice-Chairwoman of the Supreme Court from 2015 until 24 February 2017, Vice-Chairwoman of the Supreme Court from 24 February 2017 until 12 June 2020. As a member of the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court, Indira Maira Alfonzo Izaguirre is responsible for the actions taken against the then newly elected National Assembly in December 2015, resulting in the impossibility for the National Assembly to exert its legislative power. Moreover, she accepted her appointment as the chairwoman of the CNE in June 2020 by the Supreme Court although this prerogative belongs to the National Assembly. In that role she prepared and supervised the non-democratic elections of the National Assembly held on 6 December 2020 and participated in the change of 30 June 2020 to the electoral norms for those elections, without formally leaving the Supreme Court (temporary permit to integrate the CNE). After the renewal of the CNE in May 2021, she returned to the Supreme Court. Her actions have therefore undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.


22.2.2021




48.


Leonardo Enrique MORALES POLEO


Gender: male


Former Vice-President of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) and President of the Political Participation and Financing Commission (August 2020–May 2021). Leonardo Enrique Morales Poleo was appointed Vice-President of the CNE and President of the Political Participation and Financing Commission on 7 August 2020 by the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) although this prerogative belongs to the National Assembly. Moreover, just prior to his appointment he served in the Advanced Progressive Party (Avanzada progresista). As member (rector) and Vice-President of the CNE, he fully took part in the decision-making process of the CNE. He supported and facilitated the supervision of the electoral process that led to the non-democratic elections of the National Assembly on 6 December 2020. His actions have therefore further undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. Leonardo Enrique Morales Poleo accepted to be appointed to the CNE and remained in his position as Vice-President of the CNE while democracy was severely undermined in Venezuela.


22.2.2021




49.


Tania D’AMELIO CARDIET


Date of birth: 5 December 1971
Place of birth: Italy
Nationality: Venezuelan
ID-number: V-11691429
Gender: female


Judge of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) since April 2022. Former member (rector) of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE)) for the period 2016-2023. Former Member (rector) of the CNE for the period 2010-2016. Tania d’Amelio Cardiet, as rector of the CNE since 2010, contributed directly by her activity in her functions to the undermining of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by preparing the non-democratic 2020 National Assembly elections, participating in the change of 30 June 2020 to the electoral norms for those elections, and participating in the organisation and execution of the 2018 presidential elections. Moreover, Tania d’Amelio Cardiet accepted her 2016 appointment at the CNE by the Supreme Court, although this prerogative belongs to the National Assembly.


22.2.2021




52.


Jesús Emilio VÁSQUEZ QUINTERO


ID-number: V-7422049
Gender: male


President of the Court Martial and the Military Criminal Judicial Circuit since 17 September 2021. Division General since 5 July 2019 and former Attorney General of the Military Prosecutor’s Office (December 2017 - 17 September 2021). As Attorney General of the Military Prosecutor’s Office, responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. The Military Prosecutor’s Office has been linked to internal judicial prosecution in the Armed Forces, and failures to investigate incidents, including the case of the death of Captain Acosta in 2019. Moreover, military justice is being applied to civilians.


22.2.2021




54.


Manuel Eduardo PÉREZ URDANETA


Date of birth: 29 December 1960 or 26 May 1962
Place of birth: Cagua, State of Aragua
ID-number: V-6357038
Passport number: 001234503 (expired 2012)
Gender: male


Former Deputy Minister of the Interior and Justice. Within the Venezuelan Ministry of the Interior and Justice, Brigadier General Manuel Eduardo Pérez Urdaneta ranked as one of five Deputy Ministers. His portfolio encompassed Preventive Security and Public Safety (Viceministro de prevención y Seguridad Ciudadana). Before that, Brigadier General Pérez served as Director of the Bolivarian National Police. In that role he was responsible for serious human rights violations, including the use of severe physical force against peaceful protesters, committed by officials of the Bolivarian National Police under his authority.


22.2.2021’.