26 May, 2017
Social media has for weeks buzzed with videos of Venezuelan emigres in countries from Australia to the United States shouting insults at public officials and in some cases family members in public places.
"The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government's mismanagement and corruption", Steven Mnuchin, the United States treasury secretary, said in a statement.
Protesters are demanding elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature, however Maduro has labelled the protest a violent coup attempt.
Throughout its budget justifications for Venezuela, the department of state repeatedly emphasizes its concern over the "increasingly authoritarian tendencies" of the governments of the late President Hugo Chavez, and current President Nicolas Maduro, in spite of regularly scheduled elections that are internationally recognized. In February, the administration ordered sanctions against Vice President Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of playing a major role in global drug trafficking.
The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on supporters of President Nicolas Maduro amid growing global concern over a crackdown on mass street protests.
The Venezuela's government said on Wednesday it was sending troops to Tachira.
FILE - In this April 19, 2017 file photo, Venezuelans protest, holding signs that say in Spanish "No more deaths, and "No more dictatorship", in Madrid, Spain".
Julio Borges, the leader of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly legislature, on Wednesday said the issues facing Venezuela are of worldwide importance.
"It has been unbelievably poorly run for a long period of time, and hopefully that will change and they could use those assets for the good and to take care of their people", he said. "There's great violence", Trump told a press conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivered his most scathing critique of U.S. President Donald Trump yet Friday, telling him to stop intervening and "get your pig hands out of here".
"In the recent past they had discussions about the two countries and the president [gave] the reasons why things are happening in Venezuela and the Honourable Freundel Stuart heard what he was saying", Perez said.
He called Venezuela's problems a domestic matter and said Maduro's government is trying to resolve them and will not allow any outside interference.
The court said the National Assembly was in contempt over vote-buying acc us ations against three lawmakers.
"Venezuela is the most important theme of the Organization of American States, Mercosur and Union of South American Nations".
OPEC member Venezuela officially said on Tuesday that it is supporting the proposal for a nine-month extension of the deal.
