{"id":188102,"date":"2026-05-19T14:28:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188102\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:31:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:31:36","slug":"venezuelan-ambassador-sidelined-in-lukasenkas-outreach-completes-his-tour-of-duty-in-minsk","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188102\/","title":{"rendered":"Venezuelan ambassador, sidelined in \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s outreach, completes his tour of duty in Minsk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Ambassador Araque (left) and Foreign Minister Ry\u017eanko\u016d\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (MFA)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 19, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ry\u017eanko\u016d has met Franklin Ramirez Araque, Venezuela\u2019s outgoing ambassador to Belarus, the foreign ministry in Minsk reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ry\u017eanko\u016d reaffirmed \u201cBelarus\u2019 unwavering position in support of Venezuela\u2019s sovereignty\u201d and expressed gratitude to the ambassador for his personal contribution to bilateral relations \u201cbased on mutual trust and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the presence of Venezuela\u2019s ambassador in Minsk, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka appears to have preferred to communicate with President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro through Venezuela\u2019s ambassador to Russia, Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez, rather than through the envoy stationed in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler met Velasquez twice last year, on November 25 and December 11, amid escalating US pressure on Venezuela. During those meetings, he conveyed an invitation for Maduro to visit Belarus and discussed issues that, according to his remarks, would require approval from Maduro before any formal decisions could be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States has reported the detention of Maduro and his wife on January 3 following a military operation in Caracas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 8, in his first public comments on the reported capture, \u0141uka\u0161enka called the US operation a disgrace, insisting that a similar scenario would be unrealistic in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maduro became president of Venezuela following Hugo Ch\u00e1vez\u2019s death in 2013 and declared victory in a presidential election in 2018. In 2019, Venezuela\u2019s National Assembly invoked the constitution and declared that Maduro had usurped power. Since then, more than 50 countries, including the United States, have refused to recognize him as Venezuela\u2019s head of state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the July 2024 presidential election, Maduro again declared himself the victor despite contested results. The United States and several other countries continue to refuse recognition of him as the legitimately elected president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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