State Duma Chairman to represent Russia at inauguration in Venezuela — Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Russian Politics and Diplomacy

MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin will represent Russia at the inauguration of Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro on January 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry told reporters.

“On the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the speaker of the Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament), Vyacheslav Volodin, will represent Russia at the inauguration of Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro on January 10, 2025 in Caracas,” announced the ministry.

On July 28, Venezuela held its presidential election. Maduro won, receiving 51.95% of the popular vote against his main rival, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who received just over 43.18%. One of the opposition leaders, Maria Corina Machado, declared on election day that opponent Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and his campaign would not recognize his defeat. Russia, Bolivia, Honduras, Iran, China, Cuba, Nicaragua and several African countries congratulated Maduro on his victory. However, a number of countries, including Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the United States, Uruguay and Chile, have not recognized the re-election of the incumbent president.