A person covered with Venezuela's national flag with a picture of opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, holds a candle during a vigil in a tribute to citizens who were detained, following disputed election results, in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 8, 2024 [Maxwell Briceno/Reuters]

Caracas, November 29 (RHC)-- Venezuelan lawmakers have approved a measure that would implement steeper penalties for those who support U.S. sanctions against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

On Thursday, the country’s National Assembly passed the Simon Bolivar Liberator Law, which bans officials who approve U.S. sanctions against Venezuela from holding office for up to 60 years.

“Anyone who promotes, instigates, requests, invokes, favours, facilitates, supports or participates in the adoption of coercive measures … will be punished with imprisonment of 25 to 30 years,” the law also states.

The law also allows broadcast media to be shut down if they support sanctions, while text-based media may be hit with fines of up to $51.7 million.