1 of 4 | Venezuela's National Assembly, which is controlled by the Democratic Unity Roundtable opposition coalition, held session on Thursday in Petare, a Caracas suburb regarded as one of the largest slums in the world. In the session, the lawmakers unanimously approved to reject a statement from Russia's Foreign Ministry criticizing the opposition. Photo courtesy Prensa Unidad Venezuela
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly legislature held a session in Petare, one of the world's largest slums, to reject an "interventionist communique" by Russia's Foreign Ministry.
The Venezuelan opposition, consolidated in the Democratic Unity Roundtable coalition, on Thursday held what is being considered a historic session in the Mesuca Sports Complex within what is regarded as the largest slum in Latin America on the outskirts of Caracas. Members allied to President Nicolas Maduro did not attend.
"The National Assembly went to the streets," the unicameral legislative body said in a statement.
In the meeting, the parliament members discussed and ultimately unanimously approved a measure rejecting a statement by Russia's Foreign Ministry issued last Friday that said the opposition was leading a "color revolution" -- a non-violent resistance movement that leads to massive protests and, sometimes, to the resignation or overthrow of leaders considered by opponents as authoritarian.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said the opposition's "radical solutions" to solve Venezuela's political crisis further destabilized peace and urged for negotiations between the opposition and Maduro's regime to continue. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Shoigu has previously suggested "color revolutions" is a new form of warfare.
"In addition, an 'Agreement in rejection of the interventionist communique of the Russian Ministry on the political situation in Venezuela' was approved unanimously," the National Assembly added.
"Historic day for the National Assembly. Today meets from Mesuca accompanied by the people who elected it," National Assembly lawmaker Rafael Guzmán said in a statement.
National Assembly lawmaker Eudoro González said that it was not the opposition but Maduro's regime that destabilized peace by not fulfilling previous agreements.
Also on Thursday, the opposition coalition said it would no longer re-engage in political crisis talks with Maduro, which were first held in December under Vatican mediation.
"We must remind the Russian Federation and the national government that all interference is reprehensible," González said. "Friends from Russia, we remind you that it was the executive who broke the agreements at the table, did not release the political prisoners, did not open the humanitarian channel, mocked not only the Venezuelan people, but the intermediaries and the representatives of the Vatican."
