A letter in which Russia’s Federation Council accused Colombia of “provoking civil war” in Venezuela was “poorly interpreted,” an embassy source told Russian website Sputnik.
The letter was rejected in Colombia where House of Representatives President Alejandro Chacon said that the letter was a “direct threat.”
“Colombia is in no position to attack any other State,” President Ivan Duque said Tuesday.
Russia accuses Colombia of trying to provoke civil war in Venezuela
According to the anonymous embassy source cited by Sputnik, “the letter reflects the position of the Federation Council” and not of the government.
It is a parliamentary document, which is why the Embassy sent the letter to the local congressmen and not to the Foreign Ministry, so that the local parliamentarians would know Russia’s position better, but as an exchange of views and not as a warning or an affront.
Anonymous embassy official via Sputnik
The Russian embassy spokesperson said that the intention of the letter exposed Russian lawmakers’ position on a failed attempt to force “humanitarian aid” into Venezuela.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself president in January, used Colombia and Brazil to force American aid into the neighboring country in February and has received support from more than 50 countries in his bid to the presidency.
The operation that sought to break the Venezuelan military’s loyalty to Maduro, who is also supported by Russia and China, turned violent and failed.
When American “humanitarian convoys” were attempted to be sent through several states, they were intended to provoke a large-scale civil war and henceforth carry out an armed intervention in that state.
Russian Federation Council
The tense exchange comes amid increased Russian support for President Nicolas Maduro, who has accused the United States and its staunchest ally in Latin America, Colombia, of trying to topple his disputed government.
The diplomatic offensive of Russia’s equivalent of a senate comes only days after Trump took an apparently unscripted swing at Duque, saying “he has done absolutely nothing for us.”