Russia Continues To Recognize Maduro As Venezuela's Legitimate President - Senior Lawmaker

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) Russia's position on recognition of Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela will not change despite the fact that several states have recognized the opposition leader as the president of the Latin American country, Russian upper house member Andrei Klimov told Sputnik Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, the new speaker of the opposition-run National Assembly, told a massive rally in Caracas that he swore to assume executive powers.

The United States and Colombia, among others, has already recognized him as interim president of Venezuela.

"Russia has already recognized the legally elected president of Venezuela Maduro, [vice-speaker of the Russian upper house Ilyas] Umakhanov was at the inauguration, conveyed congratulations. Nothing will change in her [Russia's] position," Klimov, who serves as the deputy chair of the Russian upper house's International Affairs Committee, said.