By Beyza Binnur Donmez
ANKARA
Russia has doubts over the U.S. intention to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela scheduled on Saturday.
"If the organizers really want to just deliver some kind of humanitarian aid to the needy, why not use the specialized UN agencies that have extensive and invaluable experience in carrying out such operations?" Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
Zakharova was reiterating a Russian warning last Thursday against the U.S. move to use humanitarian aid delivery as a possible “pretext for a military intervention”.
Rocked by protests after the self-declaration of the opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president, Venezuela on Wednesday witnessed a series of events opposing President Nicolas Maduro.
Here are the developments of Wednesday as follows:
Venezuela’s Embassy in Costa Rica was taken over by an ambassador appointed by the opposition.
Maria Faria, who claimed to have been appointed by Guaido, entered the diplomatic building in San Jose early Wednesday, according to an embassy statement.
Faria said diplomatic staff appointed by Maduro were suspended and claimed new diplomats were recognized by the government of Costa Rica.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza blasted the move on social media, saying "a group of foreigners entered the Venezuelan embassy in Costa Rica like thieves".
"The government of that country must enforce the Diplomatic Relations Convention and guarantee the operation and safety of our personnel and facilities," he added.
Opposition wants to control Venezuelan assets
Guaido said he spoke to Switzerland’s President Ueli Maurer to freeze bank accounts of South American nation after "irregular movements" were discovered.
"We are doing everything possible to protect these assets that belong to the republic," he added.
Guaido did not give further information about the irregular movements detected in the Venezuelan accounts.
'Armed forces have 3 days'
Guaido sought the support of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela (FANB) for the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid, saying that they will mobilize all the Venezuelan barracks to enable the aid entry into the country on Saturday.
"FANB have three days to comply with the order of the president [self-proclaimed Guaido] and to side with the constitution. This help is to save lives."
US’ Bolton warn Venezuelan army against military action
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Venezuelan leaders still have time to make the “right choice”.
"Any actions by the Venezuelan military to condone or instigate violence against peaceful civilians at the Colombian and Brazilian borders will not be forgotten."
Meanwhile, Amiral Craig Faller, head of the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), warned that Venezuelan military will be responsible for its own actions.
"Do the right thing. Save your people and your country," he said.
Southcom is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in its assigned area of responsibility -- including Central and South America with the Caribbean.
Amnesty International report accuses Maduro of political crisis
Just as the debates flared, human rights group Amnesty International published a report blaming the Nicolas Maduro government for the ongoing political crisis in the country.
"In just five days, at least 41 people died during the protests, all of them from gunshot wounds. More than 900 were arbitrarily detained, and just on 23 January (the day that demonstrations were held across the country), 770 arbitrary arrests were reported," said Wednesday’s report.
Political unrest in Venezuela
Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 until new elections were held, and was recognized by Australia, Canada, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica and the U.S. The European Parliament took a step in the same direction.
Turkey, Russia, Iran, Cuba, China and Bolivia reiterate support for Maduro, who vowed to cut all diplomatic and politic ties with the U.S. following the diplomatic spat.
U.S. President Donald pointed to military intervention as a possible of a number of choices he could use to help solve the crisis.
