The United States will also extend temporary protections for roughly 600,000 Venezuelan migrants in the United States.

In a bold move that defies U.S. sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Nicolás Maduro on his controversial third term as Venezuela’s president, reinforcing Moscow’s support for the embattled leader.

The US on Friday announced it was raising a bounty on President Nicolas Maduro to $25 million, as the Venezuelan leader was sworn in for a third term in office. Also named in the sanctions announced by the Treasury Department are eight Venezuelan officials who lead “key economic and security agencies enabling Nicolas Maduro’s repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela”.

BOGOTA, Colombia—Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was sworn into office for a third consecutive term on Friday, as the United States, European Union and United Kingdom announced a new round of sanctions on the increasingly authoritarian government.

Yesterday, opposition leader María Corina Machado posted a video on social media saying the moment was not right for his return. Recorded in hiding, she promised: “Edmundo will come to Venezuela to be sworn in as constitutional president of Venezuela at the right time.”

In a bold move that defies U.S. sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Nicolás Maduro on his controversial third term as Venezuela’s president, reinforcing Moscow’s support for the embattled leader.