This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/451157-juan-guaido-rt-interview-venezuela/

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
‘Maduro must go!’ US targets only corrupt officials to save Venezuelans, Guaido tells RT Backed by UNSC? 5 moments from Guaido’s interview with RT that don’t quite add up
(about 5 hours later)
Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim leader has told RT that the ‘corrupt regime’ there is solely to blame for its dire humanitarian situation, and promised that democracy will be embraced, with free elections, once Maduro is gone. Did Caracas steal money from Russia and has Venezuela’s self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido got solid backing from the UNSC? RT breaks down an interview with Guiado, looking at whether some of his claims are more than far-fetched.
“It is not true that there is an economic blockade. There are sanctions against corrupt officials and thieves,” Guaido told RT Spanish in an exclusive interview, dismissing any notion that US sanctions and years of economic and political pressure on Caracas might have contributed to the deteriorating socio-economic situation in Venezuela. Speaker of the nation’s parliament and opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself 'interim president' of Venezuela last month, challenging the authority of the sitting President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido’s declaration was backed by the US and its allies in Europe and South America. Nations, like China, Russia, Mexico and Iran continue to recognize Maduro as the leader of Venezuela.
“It has absolutely nothing to do with the blockade, it has to do with the fact that the money was stolen!” the opposition parliament speaker passionately reiterated. “They robbed Russia, they robbed the people of Venezuela, and now we are starving.” The politician spoke exclusively to RT Spanish, partly resorting to some eyebrow-raising statements and 'facts.'
However, the United Nations, as well as the Maduro government, which blames Americans for deliberately exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, would likely disagree with Guaido’s assessments. Endorsed by UN Security Council
“The economic sanctions are aggravating the already acute crisis affecting the Venezuelan economy, which adds to the damage caused by hyperinflation and the fall in oil prices,” UN Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy said. “The use of sanctions by outside powers to overthrow an elected government is in violation of all the norms of international law.” Juan Guaido claimed that the UN Security Council (UNSC) not only discussed, but also "endorsed the support for the process which we are doing now."
Maduro and his “corrupt regime” has been backed into a corner and will soon crumble, with or without outside help, because 90 percent of the population are fed up and want change – and the army will soon too side with Venezuelan people, Guaido claimed. On January 26, the UNSC indeed met to deal with the crisis in Venezuela, but it failed to reach a unanimous agreement. As the body noted in a press statement, the council members remained "divided" in their assessment of the situation on the ground. No resolutions in support of Juan Guaido and declaring himself 'interim president' of Venezuela were passed or even voted on.
Somewhat dodging the question about when the ‘free and fair’ elections – so craved by some foreign states and others who believe Nicolas Maduro ‘usurped’ power amid the oppositions’ boycott of last year’s polls – might take place, Guaido refused to name any specific dates. As a matter of fact, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a general statement urging "all actors to lower tensions and pursue every effort to prevent violence and avoid any escalation."
“We are going to call truly free elections in Venezuela once the usurpation ceases, and we can build the mechanisms to have a truly free election,” Guaido has repeatedly vowed, stating that he believes Maduro has no real choice but to eventually surrender. Sanctions began last week
Previously, Guaido, who proclaimed himself ‘interim president’ of Venezuela in January and got the immediate blessing of the United States and its allies in Europe and across Latin America, did not rule out that he might have to make a “controversial” decision to “authorize” a “humanitarian” intervention. The Trump administration also said all options remain on the table to rid Venezuelans of the “oppressive dictator” Maduro. Going further, the self-proclaimed leader said that "the [dire] humanitarian situation in Venezuela and the sanctions began a week ago."
Juan Guaido told RT that one of the things the country must focus on is putting the nation’s rich oil reserves to work by increasing production. This will help ordinary Venezuelans, who don’t currently see the benefits of their country’s natural reserves, and also attract foreign partners like the US, China, and Russia, ultimately “saving” the industry, he said. "A week ago!" he stressed. The latter is correct if only taking into account the most-recent round of sanctions imposed by the US on January 28, which targeted the government, as well as the financial and energy sector.
However, Caracas has been facing an array of restrictions since as early as 2014, when a bill authorizing sanctions against Venezuelan officials was signed by then-president Barack Obama. The first round of sanctions came in March the following year.
President Donald Trump stepped up economic pressure on Venezuela in August 2017 by banning financial institutions from dealing with the nation's government and the state oil company PDVSA. Three more rounds of restrictions against Venezuela's energy sector were imposed in 2018, including a ban on buying debt from the Venezuelan government.
Sanctions target 'corrupt officials'
Quizzed on whether foreign sanctions exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, Juan Guaido insisted that they were enacted "against corrupt officials and thieves."
His claims go against the assessment from the United Nations, though. The sanctions "are effectively compounding the grave crisis affecting the Venezuelan economy, adding to the damage caused by hyperinflation and the fall in oil prices," UN Special Rapporteur and human rights expert Idriss Jazairy said just two weeks ago.
A rather grim prediction came out last year as well. A report from the US Congressional Research Service said that analysts are "concerned that stronger sanctions could exacerbate" Venezuela's economic crisis. It also pointed out that "many Venezuelan civil society groups oppose sanctions that could worsen humanitarian conditions."
Article 233 & new elections
Juan Guaido strongly maintained that he took on the role of the 'interim president' based on Article 233 of the constitution. He claimed he had to do so due to the "lack of elections" as the opposition deems the presidential vote last May illegitimate. Back then, Maduro received nearly 68 percent of the votes.
The Article 233 lays out specific reasons for dismissing the president, such as poor mental or physical health, or a verdict from the nation's highest court, and doesn't directly mention elections.
It further says that if the president-elect can't take office, a new election must be called and held within 30 days. Speaking to RT, Guaido refused to name the exact date of the new vote, despite being asked several times. He only gave a vague promise that it will take place after the end of the "usurpation" of power by the current government.
Millions stolen from Russia
Touching upon the financial issue, Guaido alleged that 'corrupt' Venezuelan officials “have stolen $700 million” from the Russian oil and gas giant, Rosneft, which invested in several projects in the South American country.
This claim, again, appears to be far-stretched as it can’t be backed by the 'victim' of the supposed heist. According to the Rosneft vice president Aleksandr Krastilevsky, "all payments" from its Venezuelan partner, PDVSA "are being made in accordance with the schedule." 
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!