Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demanded the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are currently detained in the United States. Speaking at the UN General Debate in New York on Saturday, Lavrov insisted that “the Venezuelan head of state and his wife be released without delay and that such excesses must not happen again.”
The Russian minister accused the U.S. of invading Venezuela earlier this year in “disregard of all norms, including moral norms.” Lavrov further argued that this action was illegal, stating that international law clearly dictates that high-ranking officials of any state should enjoy immunity.
He criticized the West for continuously resorting to “raw force to act unpredictably and engage in all kinds of undertakings,” actions he claimed jeopardized “the lives and prosperity of millions, if not billions, of people on our planet,” warning that such behavior is dangerous for everyone else.
