Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Nicolás Maduro on his re-election as the president of Venezuela. In a statement from the Kremlin, Putin highlighted the strong strategic partnership between Russia and Venezuela. “Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership. I am confident that your work at the head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all areas … Remember that you are always welcome on Russian soil,” he said.
Putin’s congratulations stand in stark contrast to reactions from the US, the European Union, and several Latin American countries, which have expressed significant doubts about the transparency of the electoral process. These international entities have raised concerns regarding the credibility of the vote count announced by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, which declared Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote compared to 44% for his main rival.
The Venezuelan opposition has dismissed the electoral council’s announcement as fraudulent, claiming their candidate, Edmundo González, actually won with 70% of the votes. They plan to challenge the result, citing vote tallies, exit polls, and quick counts that reportedly show a substantial lead for González.
The election outcome is poised to have significant repercussions not only for Venezuela but also for its international relations, particularly with countries skeptical of the election’s legitimacy.