Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil has sharply criticized US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his recent remarks on social media, which Gil described as "rude" and aimed at inciting a coup in Venezuela.

Gil urged Blinken to accept the outcome of Venezuela's July 28 elections, in which President Nicolas Maduro secured victory.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Gil declared, "Our victory, Mr. Blinken, accept it," and underscored that they "crushed their plans through voting and the unity and mobilization of civil and military police," asserting, "They will not return."

Blinken had earlier tweeted on X condemning the "repression" by President Maduro following the elections, which he claimed resulted in the "death or imprisonment of thousands." 

Venezuelans voted for change. Maduro’s post-election repression has killed or jailed thousands, and winning candidate @EdmundoGU remains the best hope for democracy. We must not let Maduro and his representatives cling to power by force. The will of the people must be respected.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 9, 2024

"Venezuelans voted for change. Maduro’s post-election repression has killed or jailed thousands, and winning candidate Edmundo González remains the best hope for democracy. We must not let Maduro and his representatives cling to power by force. The will of the people must be respected," he wrote on X.

The big picture

The political crisis in Venezuela has intensified since President Nicolas Maduro won the July 28 election. The opposition rejected the results, claiming that it was Gonzalez who had won by a wide margin.

Several countries, including the United States, the European Union, and multiple Latin American nations, refused to recognize Maduro’s victory.

In the aftermath of the election, Venezuelan prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez due to his continued claims that he was the legitimate victor, and for destabilizing the country.

Before fleeing the country and seeking asylum in Spain, the far-right candidate had been in hiding for a month, ignoring three summonses to appear before prosecutors.

Western-backed post-election riots in Venezuela have resulted in 27 deaths and 192 injuries, with the government reporting around 2,400 arrests.

Venezuelan authorities confirmed that Maduro was re-elected with 52% of the vote. However, the opposition released its own data, claiming that Gonzalez Urrutia secured 67% of the votes.

According to Joel Garcia, a lawyer who has represented several opposition figures, Gonzalez Urrutia could face up to 30 years in prison if charged with all the accusations leveled against him.

Prior to his candidacy, Gonzalez was a relatively unknown retired diplomat. He stepped in as a last-minute presidential candidate after the leading opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado, was barred from running on account of her criminal record.

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