US announces $25 million reward for arrest of Venezuelan Nicols Maduro

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The United States has announced an increased $25 million (20.4 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term.

The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by recriminations from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders.

Rewards were also offered for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. A new reward of up to $15 million was also offered to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.

The UK also imposed sanctions on 15 senior Venezuelan officials, including judges, members of the security forces and the military.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said those sanctioned were responsible for “undermining democracy, the rule of law and human rights violations”.

Foreign Minister David Lammy later described Maduro's regime as “fraudulent”.

Also on Friday, the EU announced that it would extend its “restrictive measures” against Venezuela due to “the lack of progress (…) leading to the restoration of democracy and the State of right”. The bloc also sanctioned 15 other Venezuelan officials.

Canada also imposed new sanctions over what Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly called Maduro's “brazen actions.”

Joly said Canada “will not tolerate the erosion of the democratic process or the repression of citizens seeking to express their rights.”

Maduro and his government have repeatedly denounced many of the allegations made by Western countries and opposition leaders.

The US award cites drug and corruption charges dating back to 2020.

In 2020, the United States accused Maduro and other top officials in the country of “narcoterrorism.”

He accuses them of flooding the United States with cocaine and using the drug as a weapon to harm Americans' health.

Maduro has rejected these accusations. The United States also reimposed oil sanctions last year, after temporarily easing them in hopes of prodding Maduro to hold free and fair elections.

The Venezuelan president has blamed his country's economic collapse on American sanctions, which he describes as illegitimate and imperial. His detractors blame corruption and economic mismanagement.

President Maduro was sworn in on Friday, promising that his third six-year term would be a “period of peace.”

“This new presidential term will be a period of peace, prosperity, equality and new democracy,” he said.

“I swear by history, I swear by my life and I will fulfill it,” he added.

The results of the July 28 elections were widely rejected by the international community, including Brazil and Colombia, some of Venezuela's left-wing neighbors.

The inauguration itself was a tightly controlled affair. Most accredited Venezuelan media outlets were not allowed into the country, and foreign journalists were not allowed into the country.

Maduro still has some allies, including Iran, China and Russia, but he is increasingly isolated on the world stage.

The Cuban and Nicaraguan presidents were the only leaders present at the inauguration.

The 62-year-old was declared the winner of last July's presidential election, but the opposition and many countries, including the United States, rejected the result and recognized exiled opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, as the legitimate elected president.

Gonzalez fled Venezuela in September and is living in Spain, but this month he toured the Americas to rally international support.

The Maduro government issued an arrest warrant for him, offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his detention.

On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the release of all those who have been “arbitrarily detained” since the elections.

Additional reporting by Vanessa Silva in Caracas, Venezuela.

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