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AFP
Brussels
The European Union on Monday blacklisted seven senior Venezuelan officials over human rights violations, including the regime's intelligence chief, who the bloc accused of torture.
Interior Minister Nestor Reverol and the head of the Venezuelan Supreme Court are among those hit by asset freezes and travel bans in the EU's first targeted sanctions against members of President Nicolas Maduro's administration.
The EU has voiced serious concerns about rights abuses in Venezuela, where protests against Maduro last year turned violent and economic collapse has led to dire shortages of food and medicine.
"In view of the continuing deterioration of the situation in Venezuela, the Council (of EU foreign ministers) decided to put seven individuals holding official positions under restrictive measures, with immediate effect,"the EU said in a statement.
"These individuals are involved in the non-respect of democratic principles or the rule of law as well as in the violation of human rights."
