France summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to Paris on Wednesday to protest against the treatment inflicted on its diplomatic representation in Caracas amid tensions with the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, French diplomacy announced.
Read also: In Venezuela, gigantic clandestine operation to overthrow Maduro
"France expresses its firm condemnation of the measures taken in recent days which undermine the normal functioning of our diplomatic representation in Caracas," said an assistant spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arguing that these measures were "contrary to the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations ”.
Since May 2, filtering barrages of the Sebin, the Venezuelan intelligence services, have been erected at the entrance and at the exit of the rue de Caracas where is the residence of the French ambassador, according to a source close to the folder.
The ambassador's residence has no longer had electricity since May 3 and must use a generator.
It also no longer has water and cannot activate a well due to the lack of diesel fuel to power the pump, the tankers no longer having the possibility of accessing the street to supply it.
"This position was expressed this afternoon when the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in France was summoned to the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs," added the deputy spokesperson. "The French authorities are waiting for these measures to be ended without delay in order to restore the normal functioning of our diplomatic representation," he continued.
France had recognized Guaido
The European Union supports the American plan for a transitional government in Venezuela without the socialist leader Nicolas Maduro and the leader of the opposition Juan Guaido. A number of European countries, including France, had recognized Juan Guaido in 2019 as the interim president of Venezuela.
Nicolas Maduro accuses his rival of having fomented an attempt to "invade Venezuela" which, according to him, was to result in a "coup", with the complicity of the United States and Colombia. President Donald Trump has denied any involvement.
Read also: Attempted "invasion" in Venezuela: the prosecution accuses Guaido of having recruited "mercenaries"
In total, 45 people, including two former American soldiers, were arrested for their alleged involvement in this failed "invasion", which consisted of a landing of men on the 3rd in Macuto, less than an hour's drive from Caracas on the caribbean coast.
Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, enjoys the support of Cuba, China and Russia. But Washington is tightening the screw of sanctions against Caracas more and more and the American justice has indicted the political heir of Hugo Chavez (1999-2013) for "narco-terrorism" in March.