U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Chris Coons, Jacky Rosen, Jeff Merkley, Chris Van Hollen, Cory Booker and Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Joaquin Castro, Greg Stanton, Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Jared Moskowitz have issued a statement concerning the political situation in Venezuela. They criticized the Maduro regime for its continued violence against Venezuelans following the recent inauguration.
The statement highlighted that “Maduro’s actions today continue to undermine the electoral will of the Venezuelan people who voted resoundingly for Edmundo González on July 28, 2024.” It emphasized that state violence and repression cannot alter this outcome and reiterated that a return to democracy is crucial for Venezuela’s prosperity.
The lawmakers condemned various actions by the Maduro regime over the past six months including barring election candidates, detaining opposition figures arbitrarily, censoring media outlets and laying siege to diplomatic compounds. They specifically mentioned this week’s abduction of opposition leader María Corina Machado as “unacceptable” and indicative of the fear under which Venezuelans are living.
They called upon the United States and international partners to increase efforts supporting democratic resolutions in Venezuela. This includes implementing targeted sanctions against individuals involved in recent violence since July and demanding the release of political prisoners held by Maduro’s government.
