UN Human Rights Council condemns unilateral sanctions

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning unilateral sanctions as a means of political pressure, and called on states to abandon them.

27 countries, including Russia, China, India, Venezuela and Cuba, voted for the resolution during the 49th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, on Thursday, while 14 countries opposed it, including the United States, Britain, Japan, Ukraine and European countries, and 6 countries abstained, including Brazil. and Mexico.

The resolution condemns "the application of unilateral sanctions by some countries as a means of political and economic pressure" with the aim of "preventing countries from taking their decisions freely and independently."

The resolution calls on all countries to abandon the application of sanctions that do not comply with the Charter of the United Nations, including "measures that have an impact outside the jurisdiction and that impede commercial relations."

The resolution supports the establishment of a UN mechanism to provide legal protection to countries that are subject to sanctions, and calls on all countries to deal with the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral restrictions on human rights, Belarusian Yelena Dovgan.

Source: "TASS"

Venezuela: The authorities are investigating allegations that millions have been transferred to officials

The Venezuelan government is investigating a Portuguese company's unjustified payment of millions to government officials for a contract to renovate and operate the country's second largest port.

The  Miami Herald reported that the company paid money laundered through front companies to unnamed Venezuelan officials, some of whom live in the United States.

In return, Teixeira Duarte was to be given the opportunity to modernize the port, build a highway expansion and then operate the port under a lucrative 20-year concession, allegedly.

Documents obtained or examined by the Herald newspaper and in the possession of the public prosecutor state that Teixeira Duarte paid tens of millions through front companies.

It is noteworthy that Teixeira is one of the largest construction companies in Portugal, and operates in 22 countries, including the United States.

Source: The  Miami Herald