The United States has sanctioned a Russian bank for its role as "lifeline" of Nicolás Maduro's regime

The United States sanctioned the Moscow-based bank Evrofinance Mosnarbank, jointly owned by Russian and Venezuelan state companies, for having worked with the "illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro", announced Monday the Treasury Department.

"This decision shows that the United States will take action against foreign financial institutions that support the illegitimate regime of Maduro and contribute to the collapse of the economy and the humanitarian crisis ravaging the people of Venezuela."said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement stressing that the entity" saved the life "of Chavez.

Last May, the Evrofinance, owned by the Venezuelan Development Fund (Fonden) and Russian state-owned Gazprombank and the VTB Group He stood out as the only bank to have challenged Washington and called on investors to support the project. Petro, the frustrated cryptocurrency launched by Chavez.

In recent months, the Mosnarbank has made significant progress in ranking Russian lenders. L & # 39; agency Bloomberg He pointed out as "unusual" that a Moscow company has such a takeoff in a recessionary economy.

"The United States will not stay on the sidelines while foreign financial institutions will facilitate illegitimate transactions for Maduro and his friends.and perpetuate the corruption that devastated Venezuela, "said John Bolton, Donald Trump's national security advisor.

The US Treasury also said that the Maduro regime "took advantage of the suffering of the Venezuelan people".

According to the order, all properties and entities located on US soil that belong to this entity are frozen at least 50%. In addition, US citizens are prohibited from doing business with the company.

"The decision of today (…) is against a foreign financial institution that has aided, sponsored or provided financial, material or technological support, or goods or services, to Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PdVSA), which is in itself an entity that has been a vehicle of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering by Maduro and his henchmen, "said the Treasury.

(With information from AFP)