By MSN
Jul 13, 2021
Maduro’s re-election in 2018 has not been recognized by either the opposition at home or by around 60 other countries – including the European Union and the United States.
Washington in particular has ramped up sanctions against Venezuela and its regime, putting huge pressure on a country that has plunged deeper into political, economic and humanitarian crisis.
“Norway has been promoting an international dialogue based in Mexico, and very well, we agree,” Maduro said at a meeting with lawmakers at the presidential palace in Caracas.
“What we do not agree with is that some people who say they want to participate in the dialogue are preparing coups, financing criminals, terrorist attacks, and are planning assassinations,” added the president.
Maduro’s comments come after the arrest of opposition leader Freddy Guevara, who was detained Monday by the secret police and will be charged with terrorism and treason, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Guevara has been accused in the past of encouraging violence in protests that called for Maduro’s departure, although the lawmaker was pardoned by the president last year.
Without referring to Guevara directly, Maduro said on Monday that some of those who have been pardoned “go free and immediately join in looking for criminals, paying for violent groups and preparing assassinations.”
The US and EU have said they are willing to review sanctions if negotiations in favor of “credible” elections advance.
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