U.S. puts travel ban on Venezuelan officials

World Today

The strongest sanctions yet against Venezuela are now officially in effect by the U.S. The escalating tension between the two countries comes after a protest in Venezuela in March and the release of a former Venezuelan military intelligence chief by Aruba. CCTV America’s Martin Markovits has more on this from Caracas.

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U.S. places travel ban on Venezuelan officials

The strongest sanctions yet against Venezuela are now officially in effect by the U.S. The escalating tension between the two countries comes after a protest in Venezuela in March and the release of a former Venezuelan military intelligence chief by Aruba. CCTV America's Martin Markovits has more on this from Caracas.

The sanctions were imposed to Venezuelan government members the U.S. said committed human rights abuses during a crackdown on opposition protests. The action targets 24 high-ranking Venezuelan officials including cabinet members, senior judiciary members, and high-ranking military, police and National Guard members, according to Congressional aides.

The U.S. State Department’s announcement cited the months-long street protest movement that left dozens of people dead earlier this year and said the Venezuelan government had responded in many instances with “arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force.”

Elias Jaua, Venezuela’s foreign minister, described the U.S. travel ban for officials of the socialist government as “the desperate cry of those who know that the world is changing.”