Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Nicolas Maduro on a new presidential term in Venezuela, saying that Moscow enjoys the strategic partnership with this South American country, and that Maduro is always welcome in Russia.
Maduro and his opposition rival, Edmundo Gonzalez, have declared victory in the presidential election, while Washington and other foreign governments are concerned and doubt the official data that has put Maduro as the winner.
The electoral authority said after midnight that Maduro had won a third term with 51 percent of the vote – a result that could extend his socialist rule for a quarter of a century.
“Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership,” Putin said in a message to Maduro, the Kremlin said.
“I am convinced that your actions at the head of the state will continue to contribute to progressive development in all directions.”
“Remember, you are always welcome on Russian soil,” Putin was quoted as saying.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said that Washington has serious concerns that the results do not reflect the will of the people.
The electoral authorities should be an independent body, but the opposition says it acts in favor of the Maduro Government.
Washington, which has opposed Maduro’s re-election as head of state in 2018, lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry last October in response to a deal Maduro made with opposition parties.
Some time later, Washington reinstated the sanctions, due to what it called actions that threatened the democratic vote, and said it would evaluate the sanctions policy, depending on the progress of the elections. /REL
