‘Mercenaries’ from Ukraine Conflict Captured in Venezuela, Says Maduro
According to President Nicolas Maduro, seven foreign mercenaries, among them three Ukrainians, were organizing attacks in Venezuela. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
According to President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelan authorities have apprehended seven foreign mercenaries, including individuals from Ukraine and the United States, who were reportedly plotting to carry out attacks against the nation's leadership.
On Tuesday, Maduro stated that among those captured were two Colombian hitmen apprehended “in different places” and “three mercenaries who came from Ukraine, from the war in Ukraine, to bring violence to the country.” He also mentioned the arrest of two “very high level” US citizens, branding them as “two important mercenaries.”
The Venezuelan president did not elaborate on the identities of the detainees and refrained from specifying whether the group acted together.
Maduro claimed that the detained individuals aimed “to carry out attacks on the leaders of the revolution,” employing the rhetoric of Bolivarian socialism made prominent by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
He asserted that Venezuela “did not allow it” and urged citizens to remain vigilant.
In total, Venezuelan authorities have reportedly detained 125 foreign mercenaries from 25 different countries, with Maduro alleging that they entered the nation “to practice terrorism against the Venezuelan people.”
This development occurs amid rising tensions between Maduro's government and opposition forces led by Edmundo Gonzalez, who have refused to acknowledge Maduro's election victory in July.
On Monday, Gonzalez called on the military to recognize him as their commander-in-chief and “put an end to the leadership” of Maduro, who is expected to be inaugurated later this week.
In September, Gonzalez, who has sought asylum in Spain after fleeing the country, became the target of an arrest warrant for charges including terrorism and conspiracy, which he denies.
The United States, which has maintained a contentious relationship with Maduro since his regime's inception, has consistently backed opposition movements in Venezuela. In November, the US recognized Gonzalez as Venezuela’s “president-elect” and subsequently intensified sanctions against the country, targeting officials accused of electoral misconduct.
In response, Venezuela enacted a law in November that imposes prison sentences of 25 to 30 years for individuals promoting and facilitating coercive measures against the nation.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Tuesday, Maduro stated that among those captured were two Colombian hitmen apprehended “in different places” and “three mercenaries who came from Ukraine, from the war in Ukraine, to bring violence to the country.” He also mentioned the arrest of two “very high level” US citizens, branding them as “two important mercenaries.”
The Venezuelan president did not elaborate on the identities of the detainees and refrained from specifying whether the group acted together.
Maduro claimed that the detained individuals aimed “to carry out attacks on the leaders of the revolution,” employing the rhetoric of Bolivarian socialism made prominent by his predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
He asserted that Venezuela “did not allow it” and urged citizens to remain vigilant.
In total, Venezuelan authorities have reportedly detained 125 foreign mercenaries from 25 different countries, with Maduro alleging that they entered the nation “to practice terrorism against the Venezuelan people.”
This development occurs amid rising tensions between Maduro's government and opposition forces led by Edmundo Gonzalez, who have refused to acknowledge Maduro's election victory in July.
On Monday, Gonzalez called on the military to recognize him as their commander-in-chief and “put an end to the leadership” of Maduro, who is expected to be inaugurated later this week.
In September, Gonzalez, who has sought asylum in Spain after fleeing the country, became the target of an arrest warrant for charges including terrorism and conspiracy, which he denies.
The United States, which has maintained a contentious relationship with Maduro since his regime's inception, has consistently backed opposition movements in Venezuela. In November, the US recognized Gonzalez as Venezuela’s “president-elect” and subsequently intensified sanctions against the country, targeting officials accused of electoral misconduct.
In response, Venezuela enacted a law in November that imposes prison sentences of 25 to 30 years for individuals promoting and facilitating coercive measures against the nation.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
