Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Jorge Arreas discussed the situation in the country and the impact of sanctions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after a meeting on the margins of the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.
“Following the visit of Lavrov to Caracas, the sides continued discussing topical issues of bilateral cooperation, stressed the importance of finding peaceful political solutions to the internal contradictions. The sides also emphasized the detrimental impact of illegal unilateral sanctions against Venezuela on the social and humanitarian situation in the country”, – the report says.
The Ministers also noted the high level of interaction in international forums, in particular in the UNHRC, and pointed out that it is unacceptable to politicize the human rights dimension.
Lavrov visited Venezuela on February 7, where he also met with Vice-President Delci Rodriguez and Head of State Nicolas Maduro.
In Venezuela, January 21, 2019, mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro began shortly after his swearing in. The head of the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition, Juan Guayido, illegally proclaimed himself interim head of state. A number of Western countries, led by the United States, have declared recognition of Guaido. In turn, Maduro called the head of parliament a puppet of the United States. Russia, China, Turkey and several other countries supported Maduro as a legitimate president. Moscow called “presidential status” of Guaido non-existent.