Senator Scott presents democracy law again to increase sanctions against the Cuban dictatorship

American senators Rick Scott and Tommy Tuberville announced on Friday the reintroduction of the «Law of Denial of Profit to the Military Oligarchy in Cuba and restriction of activities of the Cuban Intelligence Apparatus (Democracy)».

The objective is to «hold the illegitimate Cuban communist regime through severe sanctions and unprecedented financial pressure,» said Scott, who led this project with then Senator Marco Rubio in last congress.

Scott explained in a statement that «Cuba is the root of instability in Latin America and a constant threat to the national security of the United States.»

He also said that the dictatorship «has been emboldened by the last four years of Biden-Harris appeasement policies.»

«The illegitimate communist regime of Castro/Díaz-Canel houses terrorist groups, denies freedom and democracy to the Cuban people while providing a secret police force to Maduro to oppress the Venezuelan people, and houses a espionage station of the Chinese Communist Party to 90 miles from Florida, «said the republican senator of Florida.

He also said that the regime «supports ruthless dictators and allows Russia, Iran and communist China to establish themselves in Latin America to extend their influence.»

About the bill, he said he will apply «severe sanctions against the communist Cuba and close the existing sanctions gaps.» In addition, it will authorize the US President to provide an Internet service without restrictions to the people of Cuba.

The statement points out that the Democracy Law authorizes the President «to impose sanctions, blocking assets and denying the entrance to the United States, a foreign person if the president determines that the person participates knowingly in an activity with the defense sector, the Security sector, the intelligence sector or any other sector involved in the realization of abuses against human rights or in the provision of support for international terrorism. «

Sanctions can also be applied to:

• A person or high foreign official who provides significant financial, material or technological support, or participates in a significant transaction with the Defense, Security or Intelligence sector of Cuba or any entity or individual affiliated with that sector (including his immediate adult family member)
• Any entity that is property, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more than one or more designated persons is also subject to sanctions
• Any foreign person who is a military contractor, mercenary or paramilitary force that operates knowingly in a military, security or intelligence capacity for or in the name of the Cuban regime

The law authorizes the President to impose sanctions regarding the violation of human rights and corruption in Cuba, including:

• Members of the Communist Party of Cuba, including the Office of Religious Affairs and members of the Political Bureau and the Central Committee
• Members of the State Council and the Council of Ministers
• Ministry of Interior of Cuba, to include, the National Police Revolutionary Force
• Members of the Revolution Defense Committee
• The revolutionary armed forces of Cuba
• Cuba President’s Office
• Any official of the Cuban regime who works with the Ministry of Justice or the Attorney General’s Office and that violates the rights to due process of a person in Cuba
• The spouse and the children of any of these blocked people are also subject to these sanctions

In addition, it authorizes the President to end these sanctions only if he certifies before the Congress that the Government of Cuba:

• Has freed all political prisoners,
• Legalized all political parties,
• Establishes a free press, and
• The free, fair and multiparty elections observed internationally are scheduled in a timely manner

The Democracy Law also authorizes the President «to immediately use all possible means to provide a reliable and without restrictions on the people of Cuba that are not censored or blocked by the Cuban regime.»