OREANDA-NEWS. The economic sanctions imposed on Venezuela exacerbate the economic crisis and affect the ability of the state to provide basic public health services. This was announced on Friday in Geneva by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Speaking at the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), she drew attention to the difficult economic situation in the country. "The recent economic sanctions are further aggravating the effects of the economic crisis, given that most of the foreign income comes from oil exports, largely due to the US market", Bachelet said. "In addition, the implications of these sanctions appear to affect the ability of the state to provide basic health services for the population", she said.

At a press briefing, Bachelet welcomed the release of 84 detainees. According to her, 22 of them were released on Thursday, among them journalist Braulio Khatar and Judge Lourdes Afiuni. The High Commissioner also positively appreciated the consent of the authorities to accept in Venezuela two UN representatives in the field of human rights. These facts, she stated, speak of "the beginning of the country's positive participation in numerous issues relating to human rights".

A representative of the Venezuelan delegation, speaking at the session, critically assessed the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, stressing that it "completely ignored the illegal, immoral economic blockade" against his country, which "severely affected some social indicators". The diplomat recalled that the United States confiscated the country's oil assets of about $ 30 billion, and 40 banks "hold about $ 5.4 billion, preventing Venezuela from buying food and medicine".