Cardin, Durbin, Kaine Call for Reimposition of Sanctions on Venezuela Until Free and Fair Elections are Assured

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) issued a statement after Venezuela’s Supreme Court ruled that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is ineligible to run for office, in direct violation of the Barbados Agreement.

“We are deeply disappointed, but not surprised, that the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado ineligible from running in the upcoming election. Like dictators around the world, Maduro and his enablers will do everything to avoid competing in a fair election on a record of failure against legitimate opposition candidates. As Machado's absurd disqualification clearly violates the Barbados Agreement, the U.S. must reimpose related sanctions until a clean election is assured.”

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