Facebook Suspends Venezuelan President Maduro's Account

Facebook froze the page of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro for promoting an alleged miracle cure for the coronavirus.

Maduro claimed in a video, without proof, that a particular drug could cure the disease. Facebook has removed the images, the social network reported on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Facebook Will Label All Posts About Covid-19 Vaccines

Maduro in January described Carvativir, an oral solution derived from thyme, as a “miracle” medication that neutralizes the coronavirus with no side effects — a claim doctors say is not backed by science. 

According to a Facebook spokeswoman, this is against the rules of the social network. “We follow guidance from the WHO (World Health Organization) that says there is currently no medication to cure the virus,” the spokesman told Reuters. “Due to repeated violations of our rules, we are also freezing the page for 30 days, during which it will be read-only.”

The administrators of Maduro's page have been notified of the account block. His Instagram account, however, can still be used.

Maduro complained in February that Facebook is censoring his videos and that social media companies are treating him unfairly. He is a major user of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, among others, which he often uses for live sessions.