WASHINGTON — The Trump administration imposed sanctions Monday on a Moscow-based bank jointly owned by Russian and Venezuelan state-owned companies, for allegedly trying to circumvent U.S. sanctions on the South American country.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a press release it is targeting Evrofinance Mosnarbank for its support of the Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., an entity previously targeted by sanctions in January.
The U.S. and more than 50 governments recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president of the country. They say president Nicolas Maduro wasn’t legitimately re-elected last year because opposition candidates weren’t permitted to run.
“This action demonstrates that the United States will take action against foreign financial institutions that sustain the illegitimate Maduro regime and contribute to the economic collapse and humanitarian crisis plaguing the people of Venezuela,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.