Georgia expresses support for Venezuela amid harsh turmoil
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, May 2
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze tweeted on Wednesday that “we stand with the people of Venezuela who courageously embrace democracy and freedom,” in the wake of a clash in Venezuela on Tuesday between supporters of interim president Juan Guaido and his Russian-backed undemocratically elected opponent Nicolas Maduro.
Georgia is among the 50 states recognizing Guido as the interim president of Venezuela, which is one of the five countries which recognized the two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent republics after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
The interim government has plans to revoke the recognition when they finally defeat Maduro.
The clash on Tuesday left at least 100 people injured, with Maduro claiming that he “defeated the coup.”
Guaido says that the army is now on his side which means the end for Maduro.
Guado has appealed to people to take to the streets again.
Maduro’s re-election in May 2018 was widely criticized by foreign nations and organizations, with numerous reports and statements regarding coercion, electoral rigging, and fraud.
He is supported by Russia, China and top military figures of Venezuela, while the US, UK and most of the Latino American countries are supporting Guaido.
Venezuela recognized the Georgian occupied regions as independent states under Hugo Chavez in 2009.
