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3/19/2020

Treasury Removes Sanctions Imposed on Former High-Ranking Venezuelan Intelligence Official After Public Break with Maduro and Dis…

Treasury Removes Sanctions Imposed on Former High-Ranking
Venezuelan Intelligence Official After Public Break with Maduro
and Dismissal
May 7, 2019

Washington – Today, the Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
removed sanctions imposed on Manuel Ricardo Cristopher Figuera (Cristopher), who last week
broke ranks with the Maduro regime and rallied to the support of the Venezuelan constitution
and the National Assembly. Cristopher is the former Director General of Venezuela’s National
Intelligence Service, more commonly known as SEBIN.

On February 15, 2019, OFAC designated Cristopher pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692 for
being a current or former o icial of the Government of Venezuela. Today’s action, taken in
consultation with the U.S. Department of State, demonstrates that U.S. sanctions need not be
permanent and are intended to bring about a positive change of behavior.

The delisting of Cristopher also shows the good faith of the United States that removal of
sanctions may be available for designated persons who take concrete and meaningful actions to
restore democratic order, refuse to take part in human rights abuses, speak out against abuses
committed by the illegitimate Maduro regime, or combat corruption in Venezuela.

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property, which had been blocked
solely as a result of Cristopher’s designation, are unblocked and all otherwise lawful
transactions involving U.S. persons and Cristopher are no longer prohibited.

View identifying information.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm684

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3/19/2020

Treasury Removes Sanctions Imposed on Former High-Ranking Venezuelan Intelligence Official After Public Break with Maduro and Dis…

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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm684

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