Statement on the latest developments in Venezuela

Ongoing escalation of tensions and violent confrontations during last days are only increasing divisions in Venezuela. But violence and use of  force will not resolve the current crisis.

Heavily sanctioning the opposition - most recently an opposition politician Henrique Capriles Radonski who was banned from political life for 15 years - does not help to lower the unrest and the tensions in the country.

The Venezuelan people has the right to peacefully demonstrate and to see the political conflict  immediately solved. 

The European Union calls on all parties to find common ground and end the violence.