US demands Venezuela release Citgo executives

'These men are suffering serious health conditions and must be released immediately,' says State Dept

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. demanded Venezuela on Monday to free six Citgo Petroleum Corp. executives "wrongfully" detained in Caracas in November 2017.

"These men are suffering serious health conditions and must be released immediately," the State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

Citgo is a U.S.-based refiner and marketer majority-owned by PDVSA, Venezuela's state-owned oil and natural gas company.

The executives were arrested and charged with corruption, embezzlement and treason.

"[Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro loyalists continue to prevent the families and attorneys of American prisoners from assisting with basic access to food and medicine, without regard for mental health and general well-being of those detained," said the statement.

"These affronts to basic dignity will not be ignored," it added.

It also affirmed that the safety and welfare of Americans overseas are among the State Department's "highest priorities".

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