UN human rights chief says US sanctions have worsened Venezuela crisis as Nicolas Maduro and Juna Guaido compete for control of country
- Washington imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA last month
Sanctions have worsened Venezuela’s crippling economic and political crisis, the UN human rights chief said Wednesday, as Washington warned it may expand measures targeting President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government.
UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said sanctions had exacerbated the crisis but also slammed Maduro’s “violations of civil and political rights” in her annual report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“Venezuela clearly illustrates the way violations of civil and political rights – including failure to uphold fundamental freedoms, and the independence of key institutions – can accentuate a decline of economic and social rights,” said former Chile president Bachelet.
Venezuelans have been battered by an economic meltdown, shortages of food and medicine and a bitter political stand-off between Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido – who has been recognised as interim president by more than 50 countries.
“This situation has been exacerbated by sanctions,” Bachelet said.
Washington, which has recognised Venezuela’s opposition chief Juan Guaido as the country’s leader, imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA last month.
