Venezuelan authorities have detained three DirecTV executives. Why? Because the US-owned television service decided to shut operations in the South American country due to US sanctions, their lawyer said Friday.
“I hope there is justice in this country,” Carlos Villamizar, vice president of strategy for DirecTV, told reporters before surrendering himself. A warrant was issued for him and two other DirecTV executives, Hector Rivero and Rodolfo Carrano.
The Venezuela government required DirecTV to air two government-backed propaganda channels, which violated US sanctions and so the company made the decision to stop operating and have their executives leave the country. But in Venezuela, you can’t just decide those things. So the three were arrested and all of DirecTV’s property and equipment was seized by the government.