Фото: president.gov.by
Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that there had been collusion and betrayal in the situation surrounding the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He made the remarks at an award ceremony taking place in Minsk on Tuesday, according to his press service.
“I want you to understand: everything was there — both agreements and money that had been paid, including to people in Venezuela — both military and civilians. There was collusion there, and there was betrayal — everything was there,” he said.
In his view, U.S. actions toward Venezuela may be linked to concessions by U.S. President Donald Trump to military circles.
“As for Venezuela. This is a people friendly to us, who at one time gave us a helping hand. If someone has forgotten, I have not. And to some extent, well, they did not save our country, but they strongly supported it. In the times of Chavez, when they worked together with Nicolas Maduro. I was often there, I knew both one and the other. As I said — this one since childhood,” Lukashenka said. “On the eve I said that if you, Americans — this was said directly — want a second Vietnam? You will get it. However the situation develops, it seems to me they heard this. And the fact that they are now threatening Venezuela with some kind of ground operation, I think they perfectly understand that this operation will not end in their favor. And hundreds of ordinary people, servicemen, Cubans who guarded the president, will be killed. It will not just be hundreds — thousands will die already — including Americans. I think neither Donald nor others want that.”
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were detained and taken to the United States on January 3. They appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on January 5. Maduro pleaded not guilty and requested a consular visit. Flores also pleaded not guilty and described herself as Venezuela’s first lady. The next hearing in their case is scheduled for March 17.