Venezuela

1969-02-21

V-8348784

Noriega is a National Assembly Deputy (2021-2025) having been re-elected on 6 December 2020 in undemocratic parliamentary elections not recognised as free and fair by the UK. Noriega had previously served as a National Assembly Deputy for the period 2016-2020. There are reasonable grounds to suspect that Noriega, a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly, has been involved in the repression of democratic opposition in Venezuela and other actions, policies, or activities which undermine democracy in Venezuela, by coming to power through fraudulent/illegitimate elections and by his involvement with Operation Alacran. There are also reasonable grounds to suspect he is associated with Nicolas Maduro, a person who is involved in the repression of democratic opposition and otherwise undermining democracy in Venezuela through his involvement in Operation Alacran. Lastly, there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Noriega was acting on behalf of, or at the command of a person (Nicolas Maduro) who is involved in repression of political opposition and other policies which undermine democracy in Venezuela by aiding his attacks and attempts to control the National Assembly. 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.

The Director Disqualification Sanction was imposed on 09/04/2025.

2020-12-31

UK

The Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

UK country specific

Venezuela

Asset freeze and making available provisions, Trade sanctions, Travel bans

• The Regulations impose financial sanctions through a targeted asset freeze on designated persons and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available. This involves the freezing of funds and economic resources (non-monetary assets, such as property or vehicles) of designated persons and ensuring that funds and economic resources are not made available to or for the benefit of designated persons, either directly or indirectly. • The effect of the Regulations is to impose a travel ban on persons who are designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of being made subject to immigration sanctions under the Sanctions Act. • Trade sanctions.

The Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 came fully into force on 31 December 2020. They are intended to ensure that certain financial, trade and immigration sanctions relating to Venezuela continue to operate effectively. You should also review the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 and the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 to find out any amendments made to the Regulations. This sanctions regime is aimed at encouraging the government of Venezuela to respect democratic principles, to comply with international human rights law and to respect human rights. These regulations have replaced, with substantially the same effect, relevant existing EU legislation and related UK regulations.

Licensing and exception provisions are contained in Part 6 of the Regulations.