Opposition leader Juan Guaido's Representative to Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's board, David Smolansky, told Sputnik they hope Russia and China will help the transition of power in the crisis-torn country
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th February, 2019) Opposition leader Juan Guaido's Representative to Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's board, David Smolansky, told Sputnik they hope Russia and China will help the transition of power in the crisis-torn country.
"We hope they [Russia and China] are going to contribute to transition in Venezuela," Smolansky said on Thursday. "I hope they will support democracy."
Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA on Thursday called opposition leader Juan Guaido's appointment of a new board of directors for its US-based subsidiary CITGO an attempt to "steal the wealth of the people."
On Wednesday, the opposition-run National Assembly endorsed members for the special board of directors of PDVSA whose only goal would be to appoint new directors for CITGO and its subsidiaries. Later, Guaido's office in the United States announced CITGO's new board of directors. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has promised to bring to trial those who would recognize the new appointments.
On January 28, the United States, which swiftly recognized Guaido as the country's interim president - an announcement he made just a few days prior - blocked $7 billion in PDVSA assets in its jurisdiction and imposed a ban on deals with the entity as part of efforts to facilitate a power transfer.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters that by blocking PDVSA assets, the United States was taking care of this company in the interests of the Venezuelan people. Caracas has slammed the move as unlawful and accused Washington of seeking to get its hands on Venezuelan oil reserves.
Russia, China and Mexico have been among the states that backed Maduro amid the political crisis.
On Thursday, Smolansky participated in the Global Conference on the Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela in Washington DC. Smolansky, who served as mayor of El Hatillo, in the summer of 2017 was removed from office and sentenced by the court to 15 months in prison. He is a visiting scholar at Georgetown University.
