Source: RT en Español
What it’s about: During his trip to Moscow, RT interviewed Venezuelan Minister of Industries and National Production (and former Vice President) Tareck El Aissami. The interview covered various topics, including Venezuelan-Russian relations, the country’s economic standing, sanctions, and Venezuela’s cryptocurrency, the Petro. El Aissami was in Russia for the first meeting of the High Level Intergovernmental Commission, a commission created to promote a multipolar world. The commission will be headed by El Aissami and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Yury Borisov.
Why it’s false: In his response to the first question, which asked about the ease of finding economic partners given the sanctions against Venezuela, El Aissami was quick to say that any sanctions against Venezuela are illegal. El Aissami claims that sanctions create economic burden on Venezuela and restrict the Venezuelan government from buying medication, food and other necessities needed for the development of the country. Both of these statements are false. U.S. sanctions against Venezuela are not sanctions placed on the country’s government, but placed on individuals—including government officials like El Aissami. To say that the U.S. targeted sanctions on some Venezuelan officials has prevented the government from purchasing medication and other necessities is false.
On the topic of humanitarian aid, El Aissami continues on to say that the Venezuelan government has said “to all those who want to help Venezuela, you are more than welcome to”, adding that the aid organizations like the UN have raised to help Venezuelans hasn’t arrived. El Aissami says efforts to help Venezuela are just publicity stunts made to manipulate the public. He called on the UN to pass a resolution against the U.S. and put and end to the economic sanctions that violate international rights. This is another lie. International governments and NGOs have been calling on the Venezuelan government to accept food and medical supplies and allow international aid groups to work in the country. Nicolás Maduro has repeatedly not accepted humanitarian aid because according to him, “there is no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.”
On the topic of the August 4 assassination attempt against Maduro, El Aissami cites a New York Times article that, according to him, uncovered in exact detail that the assassination attempt was directed from Washington. Once again this is not true. The Venezuelan government s has tried to blame the governments of the U.S., Colombia, Chile and Peru for the occurrences on August 4 on multiple occasion. However, the New York Times piece was not about the August 4 attack, but about secret meetings between American officials and Venezuelan officers seeking to oust Maduro. While the article raises suspicions of U.S. involvement in a possible coup in Venezuela, it does not discuss the August 4 attempt on Maduro.
El Aissami also talks about political developments in countries including Argentina. He calls Argentina a failed state, saying that “while wages are going down in Argentina, wages are going up in Venezuela.” While Argentina is in the midst of an economic crisis, comparing the situation in the Southern Cone country to the crisis in Venezuela is ridiculous.