On 1 October 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, had a videoconference call with the Presidential Commissioner for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Julio Andrés Borges Junyent, appointed by the Interim President of Venezuela , Juan Guaido.
In the conversation, Julio Borges informed the Minister about the state of affairs in Venezuela, human rights violations and repression by Nicolas Maduro’s regime, as well as underlining the need for the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs pledged Latvia’s support for the efforts of restoration of democracy in Venezuela and expressed support for continued work of the UN Fact-Finding Mission. Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined that only fair, transparent presidential and National Assembly elections based on democratic standards would help Venezuela overcome the protracted political stalemate and the humanitarian crisis. At the same time, the Minister voiced support for Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela and President of the Venezuelan National Assembly.