Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be sworn in for a third six-year term Friday despite international condemnation of his recent reelection as illegitimate, as his administration grows increasingly brazen in cracking down on opponents.

Venezuela closed its border with Colombia and its airspace for 72 hours on Friday as President Nicolas Maduro prepared for his third-term inauguration.

Maduro and his aides have always rejected sanctions by the U.S. and others, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an "economic war" designed to cripple Venezuela. H