WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued a bipartisan statement on Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro’s continued attempts to repress the leading Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, ahead of presidential elections. Last week, Maduro’s National Assembly received a severe “anti-fascism” bill, which seeks to silence dissent both inside and outside Venezuela.
“The Maduro regime has disregarded the Barbados Agreement and shown the world it will stop at nothing to undermine its opponent, María Corina Machado. Machado is up against a narco-regime that holds on to power by repressing and censoring the people of Venezuela. Any attack against Machado’s integrity, including arbitrary arrests, must be met with an international response,” said the senators.
“Let there be no doubt, the upcoming elections will not be free, fair, nor democratic and both the Biden Administration and the international community must hold Maduro accountable. The recent move to pass Venezuela’s so-called anti-fascism law is further proof that civil society, political opposition, and freedom of the press have no place in Venezuela. The United States must follow through with the public parameters it laid out under the Barbados Agreement, as well as consider individual sanctions for those directly responsible for the repressive actions against political candidates, business leaders, and campaign officials. As the Venezuelan dictatorship seeks to prolong its illegitimate grip on power, the United States and the international community must respond swiftly and hold the regime accountable,” continued the senators.
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