Russia 'alarmed' over situation in Bolivia

MOSCOW

Russia said on Monday it was "alarmed" by the "dramatic development of events" in Bolivia.

In an online statement, the country's Foreign Ministry backed Bolivian President Evo Morales, underlining that the government's readiness to seek "constructive solutions through dialogue" had been "crushed by the opposition in an orchestrated coup."

"We are alarmed by the dramatic developments in Bolivia, where the wave of violence, unleashed by the opposition, prevented the completion of Evo Morales's presidential mandate.

"We call on all political forces of Bolivia to common sense and responsibility, find a constitutional way out of the situation in the interests of peace, tranquility, restoration of manageability of the state institutions, the rights of all citizens, and socioeconomic development," said the statement.

In a separate statement, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on Bolivian parties to find a solution in line with the law and warned global players against meddling.

"We call on everyone to calm down, we hope that the further development of the situation in Bolivia will be within the law. And, of course, we hope that the Bolivians will decide their own fate, without the interference of any third countries," Peskov said.

Moscow has no contact with Morales, and no Bolivian officials have sought political asylum, he added.

In Bolivia’s Oct. 20 presidential polls, Morales won 47.8% of the vote, securing victory in the first round. But when the opposition claimed fraud, some parties urged supporters to take to the streets.

After the opposition called for the polls to be cancelled, Morales announced there would be new elections, but opposition supporters said they would continue protests until an election was held without him.

On Sunday, in a televised address, Bolivian Army chief Williams Kaliman called on Morales to step down.

Morales said he resigned and that a "coup" had been carried out against him. He said he made the decision to prevent Camacho and Carlos Mesa, a former president, from issuing further instructions to their supporters to attack Bolivians.