The Russian Foreign Ministry has reportedly begun evacuating the families of its diplomats from Venezuela as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s hold on power grows increasingly fragile.
Russia is one of Maduro’s most important allies and has continually shown solidarity with the Latin American nation during the increasing pressure campaign directed against it by President Donald Trump. Outside of its public rhetoric, however, Moscow seems to be growing increasingly concerned with the situation. A European intelligence source told the Associated Press that Russia’s Foreign Ministry began evacuating the wives and children of its diplomats working in Venezuela, presumably in preparation for the situation deteriorating further.
The evacuations, which started Friday and include women and children, come as Russian officials assess the situation in Venezuela in what the intelligence source described as “very grim tones”. The withdrawals signal heightened concerns about stability in the South American nation as the Trump administration escalates its four-month pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
More than 10 vehicles bearing diplomatic licence plates stood outside Russia’s embassy in Caracas Monday morning, though no personnel were visible entering or exiting the compound. The vehicles had departed by early afternoon. Neither the White House nor the Kremlin responded to requests for comment.
AP information had been shared by a European intelligence official.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Monday he spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who expressed Moscow’s support against Trump’s declared blockade. Gil accused Washington of committing “attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions and the unlawful acts of piracy” in the Caribbean.
Despite the information already being in global news agencies, the Russian news agency TASS had taken a response from the Russian Foreign Office in Moscow.
“The information disseminated by the AP about the alleged evacuation of the Russian embassy from Venezuela is false,” the ministry stated.
