The government of the United States has declared that has imposed financial sanctions on Alberto Pimentel Mata, Guatemala’s former Minister of Energy and Mining, over his role in corruption scandals which are currently being investigated.
A statement from the U.S. Department of State, issued by its spokesperson, Matthew Miller, on Wednesday submitted that Pimentel used his official position to exploit the Guatemalan mining sector though bribery schemes, including schemes related to government contracts and mining licenses.
“Corrupt and anti-democratic acts undermine Guatemala’s public institutions, threaten regional stability, and fuel migration from the northern Central America region.
“The United States remains committed to taking action against illicit activities carried out by officials who abuse their positions of power to seek personal benefit at the expense of the Guatemalan people.
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“On October 31, 2023, the Secretary of State announced the public designations under Section 7031(c) of Alberto Pimentel Mata, and his immediate family members, for his involvement in significant corruption,” he said.
Miller said the Department of the Treasury action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which built upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.
In another report, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the West to tighten sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and step up its support for Kyiv to ensure that Moscow does not succeed in its war.
In an emotional address on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy argued that the West’s reluctance to back Ukraine and its concerns about the conflict with Russia intensifying are wasting time and lives and could extend the combat for years.
As the political squabbling in Washington and Brussels has caused the West’s once-staunch wartime backing for Kyiv to falter, Zelenskyy said Europeans must realise that Putin’s intentions extend beyond the conflict in Ukraine.