Russia: European recognition of Guaido foreign meddling in Venezuela
Russia has denounced coordinated attempts to “legitimize usurped power” in Venezuela after a number of European countries recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as “interim leader” of the Latin American country.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that “attempts to legitimize usurped power” constituted “interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.”
It is up to Venezuelans, not foreign states, to resolve their own political issues, Peskov added.
The European Union had set a deadline for the elected government of President Nicolas Maduro to hold an early presidential election after Guido declared himself “president” last month.
Maduro, however, rejected the ultimatum on Sunday, saying, “Venezuela has done all its elections.” He also warned that “nobody in the world can come and disavow our constitution and our institutions and try and impose ultimatums.”
As the deadline passed on Monday, several EU member states, including Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden and Austria, announced their recognition of Guaido as “acting president” of Venezuela.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his government “officially recognizes Venezuela’s National Assembly president, Mr Guaido Marquez, as acting president of Venezuela.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France Inter radio that “Guaido, whose legitimacy is perfectly acknowledged, has the ability to call for presidential elections.”
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also took to Twitter, saying the government of Prime Minister Theresa May recognized Guido.
Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said in tweet that his government recognized Guido as the “interim president” of Venezuela “until new free and democratic elections take place.”
“Applaud similar statements from key EU partners. Important EU statement coming up,” he said ahead of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels.
The US, along with a number of its Latin American allies, has already recognized Guaido as “president.”
Meanwhile, the UN and several countries, including Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and Syria as well as Bolivia said they would stand with the elected Venezuelan government.
Maduro says Palestine ‘most just cause’, Israel behind Aleppo attack
Iran decries US intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs
'New chapter in cooperation': Iran, Venezuela sign new MoUs
Turkey will bury Syria’s Kurdish militia if they fail to disarm: Erdogan
VIDEO | Christmas in Syria: Hope amidst uncertainty
Israel attacks eastern Lebanon for first time since ceasefire
‘Christ under rubble’: Christians in Gaza mark another Christmas amid genocide
Iran’s president extends condolences to Azerbaijan’s Aliyev over plane crash
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran says Christmas opportunity to remind ourselves of Jesus Christ call for 'justice, peace'
VIDEO | Eyewitness video shows moment of plane crash in Kazakhstan
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
