02/08/2017 (Agence Europe) – The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) issued a press release on Tuesday 1 August condemning “the violence that has been growing (in Venezuela) for many months”, with the country mired in a serious political crisis (see EUROPE 11840). The CEMR also calls for pressure from European and international authorities on the Venezuelan government to ensure human rights are respected and for negotiations to start between the parties concerned. The CEMR is particularly concerned at the arrest of the mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, and the former mayor of Chacao, Leopoldo López, and calls for their immediate release. (LT)