Sergio José Rivero Marcano (born 8 November 1964) is a Venezuelan general. As of 2017, he was the Commander General of the Venezuelan National Guard. He was formerly a commander of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.[1]

Nicolás Maduro appointed Rivero Commander of the National Guard on 24 June 2017, and replaced him with Richard Jesús López Vargas less than a year later; Rivero accused the media of portraying protestors like "the good ones".[2] The change in command came after Óscar Alberto Pérez was killed by security forces in El Junquito raid, amid public criticism that Pérez and his supporters were killed after they had surrendered.[2]

International sanctions

Rivero has been sanctioned by several countries and is banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a "close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime".[3][4]

In July 2017, the United States sanctioned thirteen senior officials of the Venezuelan government associated with the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly elections for their role in undermining democracy and human rights,[5] including Rivero.[1]

Canada sanctioned 40 Venezuelan officials, including Rivero, in September 2017.[6][7] The sanctions were for behaviors that undermined democracy after at least 125 people will killed in the 2017 Venezuelan protests and "in response to the government of Venezuela's deepening descent into dictatorship".[6] Canadians were banned from transactions with the 40 individuals, whose Canadian assets were frozen.[6]

In March 2018, Panama sanctioned 55 public officials, including Rivero.[8]

In June 2018, the European Union sanctioned eleven officials, including Rivero,[9] in response to the May 2018 Venezuelan presidential election, which the E.U. described as "neither free nor fair", stating that "their outcome lacked any credibility as the electoral process did not ensure the necessary guarantees for them to be inclusive and democratic".[10]

On 10 July 2018, Sergio José Rivero, among eleven Venezuelans previously sanctioned by the European Union in June 2018, was added to the sanctions list of Switzerland.[11][12][13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Treasury Sanctions 13 Current and Former Senior Officials of the Government of Venezuela" (Press release). U.S. Department of the Treasury. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 Pérez, Johny (16 January 2018). "Maduro designó nuevo comandante de la Guardia Nacional este" (in Spanish). Caraota Digital. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "Maduro encabeza lista de 200 venezolanos que no pueden entrar al país" [Maduro tops list of 200 Venezuelans who can not enter the country]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). 30 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. ↑ "Primera parte de lista de colaboradores de Maduro que no pueden ingresar a Colombia" [First part of list of Maduro collaborators who can not enter Colombia] (in Spanish). RCN Radio. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Lane, Sylvan and Rafael Bernal (26 July 2017). "Treasury sanctions target Venezuela president's allies". The Hill. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Canada imposes sanctions on key Venezuelan officials". CBC Canada. Thomson Reuters. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. ↑ Zilio, Michelle (22 September 2017). "Canada sanctions 40 Venezuelans with links to political, economic crisis". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Also at Punto de Corte and El Nacional
  8. ↑ "Los 55 funcionarios sancionados por Panamá por 'blanqueo de capitales'". El Nacional (in Spanish). 30 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Also at Panama Economic and Finance Ministry
  9. ↑ "Council decision (CFSP) 2018/901 of 25 June 2018". Official Journal of the European Union. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "Venezuela: EU adds 11 officials to sanctions list" (Press release). Council of the European Union. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "Switzerland Sanctions 11 More Venezuelans, including Delcy Rodriguez, El Aissami, Chourio". Latin American Herald Tribune. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "Sanctions suisses contre la vice-présidente du Venezuela" [Swiss sanctions against the vice president of Venezuela] (in French). Swiss Broadcasting Company. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "Sanctions suisses contre la vice-présidente du Venezuela". Government of Switzerland (in French). 10 July 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
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