(CNN Español) – The European Union’s ambassador to Venezuela, Isabel Briollhant, left the country on Tuesday, the bloc’s press team told CNN.
Berlhant’s departure occurred after last Wednesday, February 24, the questioned Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, Request your parcel and give you 72 hours to leave the country.
According to CNN’s European Union security officials, Brilhante arrived at Simón Bolívar de Maiquetía International Airport around 06:15 a.m. (local time) and departed on a Turkish airline flight of Turkish Airlines at 10:00 a.m.
Brillhant said goodbye to Venezuela on Tuesday via a message on his Twitter account.
“Today, Caracas gave me the most beautiful sunrise with elephants in all their splendor. Unlimited thanks to all Venezuelans for their love, appreciation and affection. I hold you all in so many beautiful memories. My heart stays here. I love you, Venezuela. ” Wrote On the social network.
Briollhant was due to leave Venezuela on Saturday according to the initial deadline set by the government, but he requested an extension.
On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Ariza made it clear that the measure had been taken to reject the sanctions imposed by the bloc on the country’s citizens.
Cluster response
In response, a day later, The European Union declared Claudia Salerno persona non grata. Salerno is the Head of Mission of the Government of Venezuela in front of the Community Bloc.
The European Union said in a statement that the decision was taken “at the initiative of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.”
Salerno wrote on Twitter on Thursday that he had treated the relationship with the European Union with “sobriety and respect.” In that letter, he thanked the Foreign Minister Ariza for his “professional and respectful work.” CNN is trying to find out when the diplomat will return.
Venezuela’s diplomatic action came after the European Council imposed sanctions on 19 Venezuelan officials on February 22. He did so because of what he called “his role in actions and decisions that undermine democracy and the rule of law in the country or as a result of gross violations of human rights.”
European Union sanctions against Venezuela
The bloc’s executive body stated, in a statement, that the decision is a follow-up to the conclusions adopted on January 25, “in light of the deterioration of the situation in Venezuela after the December 2020 elections.”
Listed officials rejected the measure, describing it as illegal, intrusive, and arbitrary.
This measure has raised to 55 total sanctions affecting the countries that make up the European Union and freezes the assets they may have in those areas.
This time, the president and vice-president of the Venezuelan National Electoral Council, Indira Mayra Alfonzo Isaggeri and Leonardo Enrique Morales Pollio, among others, were added to the list. The Federation clarifies in the document that these measures “are not designed to have negative human impacts or consequences on the Venezuelan population and are potentially reversible”.