Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1696Show full title

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1696

of 12 November 2020

implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela(1), and in particular Article 17(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 13 November 2017, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2017/2063.

(2) On 11 November 2019, the Council, considering the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and the persistent actions undermining democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, adopted Decision (CFSP) 2019/1893(2), which renewed the restrictive measures in place until 14 November 2020, including all designations of persons who are subject to restrictive measures. On the same day the Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1891(3), which amended the information relating to eight listed persons.

(3) On 21 December 2019, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) issued a declaration on behalf of the Union which mentioned that the decision of the Venezuelan Supreme Court and the non‐recognised Constituent Assembly to strip four members of the National Assembly of their constitutionally granted parliamentary immunity was a serious violation of the constitutional provisions, the rule of law and the democratic principle of separation of powers. That declaration made clear that the Union will continue to monitor the situation and indicated the Union’s readiness to use its available instruments to promote democracy, the rule of law and human rights, including targeted measures that do not harm the Venezuelan people.

(4) On 9 January 2020, the High Representative issued a declaration on behalf of the Union which stated that recent acts against the only democratically elected body in Venezuela, the National Assembly, and many of its Members, including the President of the National Assembly, have further escalated the Venezuelan crisis and that the attempts to forcibly block a legitimate election process for the Board of Directors of the National Assembly on 5 January 2020 and the use of force against its President and several lawmakers to impede their access to the National Assembly were utterly unacceptable. That declaration also indicated that the voting session that led to the so‐called election of Luis Parra was not legitimate as it did not respect the legal procedures, nor the democratic constitutional principles, and that the Members of the National Assembly must be able to exercise their parliamentary mandate as received from the Venezuelan people free of any intimidation or reprisal. Moreover, in light of these serious acts and decisions undermining democracy, the rule of law and human rights, that declaration underlined the Union’s commitment to starting work towards applying targeted measures against individuals involved in the violation of those principles and rights.

(5) On 4 June 2020, the High Representative issued a declaration on behalf of the Union on the latest developments in Venezuela, including the decision of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of 26 May 2020 ratifying Luis Parra as President of the National Assembly. That declaration underlined that the Union considers that the voting session that led to the so‐called election of Luis Parra was not legitimate, as it did not respect legal procedure nor democratic constitutional principles. It also stated that the latest developments have further deepened the long‐lasting institutional and political crisis in Venezuela and reduced the democratic and constitutional space in the country. That declaration reiterated the position of the Union that a sustainable way out of the Venezuelan crisis can only be achieved through a genuine and inclusive political process, and underlined that the Union rejects all types of violence, including any military or violent incursion in the country. In this context, the Union noted that the recent agreement between national actors on humanitarian assistance is a positive step and stressed the need for all sides to work together and constructively on alleviating the dramatic suffering of the Venezuelan people that is being aggravated by the COVID‐19 pandemic.

(6) On 16 June 2020, the High Representative issued a declaration on behalf of the Union which underlined that free and fair legislative and presidential elections that respect international standards are key to overcome the crisis in Venezuela and that an independent and balanced Electoral Council (CNE) as well as a level playing field enabling the participation of political parties and candidates is a cornerstone for a credible electoral process. Moreover, the EU called on the Government and opposition to engage in meaningful and inclusive negotiations regarding the constitution of the CNE and the lifting of bans on opposition parties.

(7) On 29 June 2020, in view of the continuing grave situation in Venezuela, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/897(4), which subjected eleven persons to restrictive measures.

(8) In this context, in accordance with Article 17(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/2063, the Council has reviewed the list set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 and has concluded that the restrictive measures against all persons in the list set out therein should be maintained.

(9) The Council has also concluded that the statement of reasons for fourteen persons should be updated and the family name of all listed persons should be capitalised.

(10) Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 U.K.

Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2 U.K.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 12 November 2020.

For the Council

The President

M. Roth

ANNEX U.K.

Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 is replaced by the following:

‘ANNEX IV List of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 8(3)

	Name	Identifying information	Reasons	Date of listing
1.	Néstor Luis REVEROL TORRES	Date of birth: 28 October 1964 Gender: male	Minister for Interior, Justice and Peace since 2016. Also appointed as Vice‐President of Public Works and Services and Executive Secretary of the Electrical General Staff in April 2019. Former Commander General of the Bolivarian National Guard, he was promoted to General in Chief of the Bolivarian National Guard in August 2020. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including the torture of (political) prisoners, and the repression of the democratic opposition in Venezuela, including the prohibition and repression of political demonstrations, committed by security forces under his command.	22.1.2018
2.	Gustavo Enrique GONZÁLEZ LÓPEZ	Date of birth: 2 November 1960 Gender: male	Reappointed as Head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) on 30 April 2019. Formerly Security and Intelligence Adviser for the President's office from 8 January 2019 to 30 April 2019 and Head of SEBIN until October 2018. As Head of SEBIN, responsible for serious human rights violations (including arbitrary detention, inhuman and degrading treatment, and torture) and the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition in Venezuela.	22.1.2018
3.	Tibisay LUCENA RAMÍREZ	Date of birth: 26 April 1959 Gender: female	President of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral or CNE) from April 2006 until June 2020. Her actions and policies have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by failing to ensure that the CNE remains an impartial and independent institution in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution, thereby facilitating the establishment of the Constituent Assembly and the re‐election of Nicolás Maduro in May 2018 through presidential elections that were neither free nor fair.	22.1.2018
4.	Antonio José BENAVIDES TORRES	Date of birth: 13 June 1961 Gender: male	Chief of the Capital District (Distrito Capital) Government until January 2018. General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard until 21 June 2017. Involved in the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Venezuela, and responsible for serious human rights violations committed by the Bolivarian National Guard under his command. His actions and policies as General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard, including the Bolivarian National Guard taking the lead in the policing of civilian demonstrations and publicly advocating that military courts should have jurisdiction over civilians, have undermined the rule of law in Venezuela.	22.1.2018
5.	Maikel José MORENO PÉREZ	Date of birth: 12 December 1965 Gender: male	President, and former Vice President, of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia). In these roles, he has supported and facilitated the Government's actions and policies which have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and is responsible for actions and statements that have usurped the authority of the National Assembly, including the appointment of the National Electoral Council (CNE) in June 2020 and the suspension and replacement of the leadership boards of three opposition parties in June and July 2020.	22.1.2018
6.	Tarek William SAAB HALABI	Date of birth: 10 September 1963 Place of birth: El Tigre, Anzoátegui state, Venezuela Gender: male	Venezuelan Attorney General appointed by the Constituent Assembly. In this role, and in previous roles as Ombudsman and President of the Republican Moral Council, he has undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela by publicly supporting actions against opponents of the government of Venezuela and the withdrawal of competences from the National Assembly.	22.1.2018
7.	Diosdado CABELLO RONDÓN	Date of birth: 15 April 1963 Gender: male	President of the Constituent Assembly and First Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Involved in undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by using the media to publicly attack and threaten political opposition, other media and civil society.	22.1.2018
8.	Tareck Zaidan EL‐AISSAMI MADDAH	Date of birth: 12 November 1974 Gender: male	Vice President of Economy and Minister of the Popular Power of Petroleum as well as National Industry and Production. As the former Vice President of Venezuela with oversight of the direction of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), El‐Aissami is responsible for the serious human rights violations carried out by the organisation, including arbitrary detentions, politically motivated investigations, inhumane and degrading treatment, and torture. He is also responsible for supporting and implementing policies and activities which undermine democracy and the rule of law, including the prohibition of public demonstrations, and heading President Maduro's “anti‐coup command” which has targeted civil society and the democratic opposition.	25.6.2018
9.	Sergio José RIVERO MARCANO	Date of birth: 8 November 1964 Gender: male	Inspector General of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard until 16 January 2018. Involved in the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Venezuela, and responsible for serious human rights violations committed by the Bolivarian National Guard under his command, including the excessive use of force, and the arbitrary detention and abuse of civil society and opposition members. His actions and policies as General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard, including the Bolivarian National Guard assaulting members of the democratically elected National Assembly and intimidating journalists reporting on the fraudulent elections for the illegitimate Constituent Assembly, have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.	25.6.2018
10.	Jesús Rafael SUÁREZ CHOURIO	Date of birth: 19 July 1962 Gender: male	Commander in Chief of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army. Former Chief of the General Staff to the Commander‐in‐Chief, former General Commander of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army and former Commander of Venezuela’s Comprehensive Defence Region of the Central Zone (REDI Central). Responsible for serious human rights violations by forces under his command during his tenure as General Commander of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army, including the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees. He has targeted the democratic opposition and supported the use of military courts to try civilian protestors.	25.6.2018
11.	Iván HERNÁNDEZ DALA	Date of birth: 18 May 1966 Gender: male	Head of the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (DGCIM) since January 2014 and Head of the Presidential Guard since September 2015. As Head of the DGCIM, Iván Hernández Dala is responsible for serious human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition committed by members of the DGCIM under his command, including the use of excessive force and the ill‐treatment of detainees.	25.6.2018
12.	Delcy Eloina RODRÍGUEZ GÓMEZ	Date of birth: 18 May 1969 Gender: female	Vice President of Venezuela, former President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and former member of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Her actions on the Presidential Commission and then as President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including usurping the powers of the National Assembly and using them to target the opposition and prevent them taking part in the political process.	25.6.2018
13.	Elías José JAUA MILANO	Date of birth: 16 December 1969 Gender: male	Former Minister of Popular Power for Education. Former President of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela through his role in leading the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly.	25.6.2018
14.	Sandra OBLITAS RUZZA	Date of birth: 7 June 1969 Gender: female	Rector of the Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela. Former Vice President of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and former President of the Commission of the Electoral and Civilian Register. Responsible for the CNE's activities which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and manipulation of the electoral process.	25.6.2018
15.	Freddy Alirio BERNAL ROSALES	Date of birth: 16 June 1962 Place of birth: San Cristóbal, Táchira state, Venezuela Gender: male	Head of the National Control Centre of the Committee for Local Supply and Production (CLAP) and Protector of Táchira State. Also a Commissioner General of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). As Head of the CLAP and Protector of Táchira State he can call upon Special Forces (FAES) and is able to influence appointments of judges and prosecutors. Responsible for undermining democracy through manipulation of CLAP programme distributions amongst voters. Additionally, as Commissioner General of SEBIN he is responsible for SEBIN’s activities which include serious human rights violations such as arbitrary detention.	25.6.2018
16.	Katherine Nayarith HARRINGTON PADRÓN	Date of birth: 5 December 1971 Gender: female	Deputy Prosecutor General (also translated as Deputy Attorney General) from July 2017 until October 2018. Appointed Deputy Prosecutor General by the Supreme Court in violation of the Constitution, rather than by the National Assembly. Responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by initiating politically‐motivated prosecutions and failing to investigate allegations of human rights violations by the Maduro regime.	25.6.2018
17.	Socorro Elizabeth HERNÁNDEZ	Date of birth: 11 March 1952 Gender: female	Member (Rector) of the National Electoral Council (CNE) until 12 June 2020 and member of the National Electoral Board (JNE). Responsible for the CNE's activities which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and manipulation of the electoral process in relation to a cancelled presidential recall election in 2016, postponement of gubernatorial elections in 2016, and the relocation of polling stations at short notice before gubernatorial elections in 2017.	25.6.2018
18.	Xavier Antonio MORENO REYES	Gender: male	Secretary‐General of the National Electoral Council (CNE) from 2009 until June 2020. In this role responsible for approving CNE decisions which have undermined democracy in Venezuela, including facilitating the establishment of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and the manipulation of the electoral process.	25.6.2018
19.	Néstor Neptali BLANCO HURTADO	Date of birth: 26 September 1982 ID number: V‐15222057 Gender: male	Major in the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), operated alongside officials in the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) since at least December 2017. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees in DGCIM facilities.	27.9.2019
20.	Rafael Ramón BLANCO MARRERO	Date of birth: 28 February 1968 ID number: V‐6250588 Gender: male	Deputy Director of the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) since at least December 2018 and Division General of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army since 5 July 2019. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees in DGCIM facilities, that were committed by DGCIM officials under his command. Linked to the death of Captain Acosta.	27.9.2019
21.	Carlos Alberto CALDERÓN CHIRINOS	ID number: V‐10352300 Gender: male	Senior office holder (referred to as Commissioner, Director and Director General) in the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees in SEBIN facilities. In particular, he participated in and was responsible for acts of torture and the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees in El Helicoide, a SEBIN prison.	27.9.2019
22.	Alexis Enrique ESCALONA MARRERO	Date of birth: 12 October 1962 Gender: male	Chief in Charge of the National Office Against Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing (ONDOFT) from January 2018 until May 2019. National Commander of the National Anti‐Extortion and Kidnapping Command (Comando Nacional Antiextorsión y Secuestro (CONAS)) between 2014 and 2017. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the mistreatment of detainees by members of CONAS under his command. Also responsible for the repression of civil society by members of CONAS under his command.	27.9.2019
23.	Rafael Antonio FRANCO QUINTERO	Date of birth: 14 October 1973 ID number: V‐11311672 Gender: male	Agent in the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). Head of Security at Maiquetía International Airport. Head of Investigations at the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) between at least 2017 and December 2018. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the ill‐treatment of detainees in DGCIM facilities by members of the DGCIM under his command. Also responsible for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition by members of the DGCIM under his command. Linked to the death of Captain Acosta.	27.9.2019
24.	Alexander Enrique GRANKO ARTEAGA	Date of birth: 25 March 1981 ID Number: V‐14970215 Gender: male	Head (Director) of the Special Affairs Division (DAE) of the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)). Promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Bolivarian National Guard on 1 July 2020. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force causing death and injury and the ill‐treatment of detainees in DGCIM facilities committed by himself and by officials under his command. Also responsible for the repression of civil society by members of DGCIM under his command, as well as being directly involved in such repression. Linked to the death of Captain Acosta.	27.9.2019
25.	Hannover Esteban GUERRERO MIJARES	Date of birth: 14 January 1971 Gender: male	Head of Investigations at the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) from at least April 2019 to August 2019. As Head of Investigations, he supervised the DGCIM facility in Boleita. Responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture, the use of excessive force and the ill‐treatment of detainees committed by himself and by officials under his command, particularly in Boleita. Linked to the death of Captain Acosta.	27.9.2019
26.	José Adelino ORNELAS FERREIRA Alias: José Adelino ORNELLA FERREIRA / José Adelino ORNELLAS FERREIRA	Date of birth: 14 December 1964 Place of birth: Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela ID number: V‐7087964 Gender: male	Secretary‐General of the National Defence Council since 26 July 2019 and Chief of the General Staff to the Commander‐in‐Chief since September 2020. Former commander of the National Capital Integral Strategic Defence Region (REDI Capital), former Chief of Staff and former Second‐in‐Command of the Operational and Strategic Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela (CEOFANB). In these roles he has supported and facilitated actions and policies of the Government of Venezuela which have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. Responsible for serious human rights violations and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Venezuela, including obstructing the provision of humanitarian aid and the use of excessive force by officials of the Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB), and by subordinate forces under his command, including the Integral Strategic Defence Region (REDI), the Integral Defence Operations Zone (ZODI) and the Bolivarian National Guard.	29.6.2020
27.	Gladys del Valle REQUENA	Date of birth: 9 November 1952 Place of birth: Puerto Santo, Sucre, Venezuela ID number: V‐4114842 Gender: female	Member and, since 26 October 2018, the Second Vice‐President of the non‐recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC). In her leading role in the non‐recognised ANC, she has undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela including by signing the decree that stripped the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, of his parliamentary immunity.	29.6.2020
28.	Tania Valentina DÍAZ GONZÁLEZ	Date of birth: 18 June 1963 Place of birth: Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela ID number: V‐6432672 Gender: female	Member and, since 4 January 2018, the First Vice‐President of the non‐recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC). In her leading role in the non‐recognised ANC she has undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by signing the decree that stripped the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, of his parliamentary immunity.	29.6.2020
29.	Elvis Eduardo HIDROBO AMOROSO	Date of birth: 4 August 1963 Place of birth: Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela ID number: V‐7659695 Gender: male	Comptroller General, since 23 October 2018, and former First and Second Vice‐President of the non‐recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC). His actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by leading the non‐recognised ANC, signing the “law against hatred”, justifying the removal of a legally‐elected opposition governor and banning Juan Guaidó from running for any public office.	29.6.2020
30.	Juan José MENDOZA JOVER	Date of birth: 11 March 1969 Place of birth: Trujillo, Venezuela Address: Arnoldo Gabaldón, Candelaria, Edo. Trujillo ID number: V‐9499372 Gender: male	Second Vice‐President of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)) and President of the Constitutional Chamber of the TSJ since 24 February 2017. His actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by a number of judicial rulings in the past two years that have limited or undermined the constitutional powers of Venezuela’s democratically‐elected legislative body, the National Assembly.	29.6.2020
31.	Jorge Elieser MÁRQUEZ MONSALVE	Date of birth: 20 February 1971 Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela ID number: V‐8714253 Gender: male	Director‐General of the National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) since 7 August 2017. His actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by severely limiting the rights of the Venezuelan people to free press, free speech and information. He used the special powers of CONATEL to silence criticism and dissidents of the regime by blocking, filtering and obstructing internet websites and by revoking existing licences for radio and television stations and refusing to grant new such licences.	29.6.2020
32.	Farik Karin MORA SALCEDO	ID number: V‐8608523 Gender: male	Prosecutor serving at the Venezuelan First Special Court of First Instance with an office within the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)). His actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by initiating politically motivated prosecutions which resulted in the arbitrary detention of members of the National Assembly and other officials opposing the Maduro regime.	29.6.2020
33.	Dinorah Yoselin BUSTAMANTE PUERTA	Date of birth: 14 January 1975 ID number: V‐10002096 Gender: female	Prosecutor serving at the Venezuelan First Special Court of First Instance, with an office within the Directorate‐General of Military Counter‐Intelligence (Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)). Her actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including by initiating politically motivated prosecutions which resulted in the arbitrary detention of members of the National Assembly and other officials opposing the Maduro regime.	29.6.2020
34.	Luis Eduardo PARRA RIVERO	Date of birth: 7 July 1978 ID number: V‐14211633 Gender: male	Member and illegitimately elected President of the National Assembly. As a member of the National Assembly, he staged his election as the President of the National Assembly on 5 January 2020, thereby undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. The election took place while entry of several parliamentarians to the premises of the National Assembly was blocked by military police, and without a quorum being reached. Therefore opposition members had to organise themselves outside of the premises of the National Assembly to re‐elect Juan Guaidó as its President. Shortly after the staged election of Parra, supported by the regime’s political party (PSUV), Parra was welcomed by Maduro and the non‐recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC).	29.6.2020
35.	Franklyn Leonardo DUARTE	Date of birth: 15 May 1977 ID number: V‐3304045 Gender: male	Member and illegitimately elected first Vice‐President of the National Assembly. As a member of the National Assembly, he staged his election as the first Vice‐President of the National Assembly on 5 January 2020, thereby undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. The election took place while entry of several parliamentarians to the premises of the National Assembly was blocked by military police, and without a quorum being reached. Therefore, opposition members had to organise themselves outside of the premises of the National Assembly to re‐elect Juan Guaidó as its President. Shortly after the staged election of Duarte, supported by the regime’s political party (PSUV), the election of the Board of Directors of the National Assembly was welcomed by Maduro and the non‐recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC).	29.6.2020
36.	José Gregorio NORIEGA FIGUEROA	Date of birth: 21 February 1969 ID number: V‐8348784 Gender: male	Member and illegitimately elected second Vice‐President of the National Assembly. Illegitimately appointed director of the ad‐hoc board of political party Voluntad Popular. As a member of the National Assembly he staged his election as the second Vice‐President of the National Assembly on 5 January 2020, thereby undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. The election took place while entry of several parliamentarians to the premises of the National Assembly was blocked by military police, and without a quorum being reached. Therefore opposition members had to organise themselves outside of the premises of the National Assembly to re‐elect Juan Guaidó as its President. Shortly after the staged election of Noriega, supported by the regime’s political party (PSUV), the election of the Board of Directors of the National Assembly was welcomed by Maduro and the non‐recognised National Constituent Assembly (ANC). In July 2020, Noriega, helped by the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ)), illegitimately took over the leadership of the political party Voluntad Popular, thereby further undermining democracy in Venezuela.	29.6.2020’

(1)

OJ L 295, 14.11.2017, p. 21.

(2)

Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1893 of 11 November 2019 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L 291, 12.11.2019, p. 42).

(3)

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1891 of 11 November 2019 implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L 291, 12.11.2019, p. 13).

(4)

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/897 of 29 June 2020 implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ L 205I, 29.6.2020, p. 1).