US State Department imposes visa sanctions against nine Cuban citizens

The US State Department has imposed visa sanctions on nine officials in Cuba's interior ministry and armed forces. This follows from a statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

"Following the actions of the Cuban regime against peaceful protesters on November 15, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on nine Cuban officials involved in attempts to silence the voices of the Cuban people through repression and arbitrary detention," the statement said. Blinken clarified that the sanctions concern nine employees in high positions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the armed forces of Cuba.

The statement also said that prior to November 15, local authorities "intimidated" activists, "detained journalists and members of the opposition in their homes," as well as those Cuban citizens who "tried to protest peacefully." According to Blinken, all these actions of the Cuban authorities were aimed at preventing their fellow citizens from exercising "freedom of speech and peaceful assembly."

"The United States will continue to use all diplomatic and economic tools to secure the release of political prisoners and support the Cuban people's call for more meaningful freedoms," Blinken added.