Opinions & Interviews

Belarus’ Foreign Ministry comments on situation in Venezuela

MINSK, 24 January (BelTA) – It is with great concern that Belarus is following the ongoing developments in Venezuela, Anatoly Glaz, Head of the Information and Digital Diplomacy Office, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said commenting on Belarus’ stance on the recent developments in Venezuela.

“Our position remains unchanged. It is with great concern that we are following the situation in Venezuela. We believe that it is the Venezuelan society that should handle all the issues and do it exclusively through a peaceful dialogue within the framework of the law and the Constitution. The people of Venezuela can handle emerging difficulties on their own without external interference,” Anatoly Glaz noted.

He said that no incidents involving Belarusian nationals in Venezuela were reported. “Many of them are there to implement social projects of the Venezuelan government. The work on these projects continues,” Anatoly Glaz said.

As BelTA reported earlier with reference to TASS, at least 16 people were killed during anti-government protests in Venezuela on Wednesday. The figures were reported by the internet portal El Pitazo. The clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in the loss of human life in the states of Amazonas, Barinas, Bolivar, Portuguesa and Tachira, as well as in the country’s capital Caracas. Large-scale protests against President Nicolas Maduro took place in many regions of the country.

On Wednesday Venezuelan National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself the country's acting president. Several countries recognized him as interim president, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Chile and Ecuador.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called the events a coup orchestrated by Washington and announced a decision to sever diplomatic relations with the United States.

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