US Seeks to Destabilize Venezuela through Sanctions – Russia

Russia has said that the US’ anti-Venezuela sanctions are aimed at upsetting the country’s internal balance and creating economic problems.

“We are firmly opposed to unilateral sanctions against sovereign states,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Monday.

“The latest measures of financial pressure on Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro were introduced by Washington at a time when that country showed signs of relative internal political stabilization after

the elections to the National Constituent Assembly, street protests eased somewhat and a schedule of forthcoming elections, including gubernatorial and presidential ones, was finalized,” she added.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits dealings with Venezuela, a measure taken to halt financing what the White House called President Nicolas Maduro’s “dictatorship.”

Maduro says the US is seeking to stifle oil exports through sanctions and a “naval blockade” on the Latin American country. He also says the US and its allies in the region are fomenting instability to bring down his government.

Political tensions in Venezuela rose recently after Caracas announced plans to establish a Constituent Assembly to take over the opposition-controlled parliament and rewrite the constitution. The opposition saw the move as an overt attempt by Maduro to accumulate power.

PRESS T.V

R.S