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Pro-Cuban protesters in front of the Capitol in the US capital Washington
Photo: Yander Zamora / imago images / Agencia EFE
Because of the suppression of protests critical of the government in Cuba, the USA has imposed further sanctions on the communist island state.
The US government put the head of the Cuban police force, Oscar Callejas Valcarce, and his deputy Eddy Sierra Arias on its black sanctions list on Friday.
Washington accuses them of "serious human rights violations."
On July 11th and 12th, thousands of people took to the streets in socialist-ruled Cuba.
In 40 cities, the demonstrators expressed their displeasure with the worst economic crisis in 30 years and the associated electricity and food shortages.
Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, there has also been a critical drug shortage in Cuba.
According to activists, the Cuban authorities cracked down on demonstrators.
A 36-year-old man died in a demonstration on the outskirts of Havana, and more than a hundred people were arrested.
The USA immediately and sharply criticized the actions of the authorities.
Last week, Washington imposed sanctions on high-ranking government officials, state organizations and companies.
However, the consequences were not considered to be particularly far-reaching.
The entire Cuban Interior Ministry had previously been on a US sanctions list.
The sanctions are based on an ordinance that targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world and include, for example, property freezes.
The US government recently stressed that it is still examining whether restrictions on sending money to the island are possible under certain conditions.
Biden threatens further measures
Plans to increase the workforce at the US embassy in Havana would also continue to be considered. This is currently only minimally occupied. Dozens of diplomats and their relatives living in the Cuban capital Havana had complained of puzzling headaches, hearing loss, dizziness and nausea from 2016 onwards. The embassy staff was then reduced to a minimum.
"The measures taken today are aimed at bringing those responsible for the suppression of the Cuban people's demands for freedom and human rights to account," said US Treasury Officer Andrea Gacki, who is responsible for sanctions.
The US Treasury Department will continue to specifically sanction those "who support the Cuban regime in its serious human rights violations."
President Joe Biden threatened that further punitive measures would follow "if there are no drastic changes in Cuba".
kry / AFP