Russia condemns US attack on Venezuela at UN and calls for Maduro’s release

Tetyana Oliynyk - 5 January, 18:44

Vasily Nebenzya. Photo: YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has called on the United States to immediately release Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are being held in custody in New York.

Source: Nebenzya at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Venezuela, as reported by Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax

Quote: "In connection with confirmed reports about the whereabouts of the abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in the United States, who as of today, to the best of our knowledge, are in New York, we call on the US leadership to immediately release the lawfully elected president of an independent state and his wife."

Details: Nebenzya added that "any problems and disputes between the United States and Venezuela must be resolved through negotiations".

The permanent representative noted, "There is no possible justification for the crime cynically committed by the United States in Caracas.

We strongly condemn the act of armed aggression committed by the United States against Venezuela in violation of all international legal norms."

Background:

On the morning of 3 January, explosions were reported in the Venezuelan capital Caracas. A state of emergency was declared in Venezuela due to what the authorities described as "extremely serious military aggression carried out by the current government of the United States".
US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, had been captured and taken out of the country as part of a special operation.
It was later reported that Maduro and his wife had landed at Stewart Air Force Base in New York.
The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court has ruled that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez will serve as acting president during Maduro's absence.
The European Union has issued a statement saying that it does not consider Nicolás Maduro to be the legitimately elected president of Venezuela and supports the fight against transnational organised crime and drug trafficking, but that these challenges must be addressed in full compliance with international law.
On 3 January, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US's armed aggression against Venezuela and expressed deep concern.

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