Bolsonaro condemns invasion of Venezuelan embassy in Brasília

President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday (Nov. 13) spoke out on social media against the invasion of Venezuela’s embassy in Brasília by a group of 20 Venezuelan supporters of self-proclaimed President Juan Guaidó, opponent of President Nicolás Maduro.

On Twitter, Bolsonaro wrote he repudiates the interference of external actors in the conflicts assailing the neighboring country. “We’re taking the necessary measures to protect the public order and prevent acts of violence, in compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

The group, who stormed into the embassy at around 5 am, argue that the woman appointed as ambassador by Guaidó, Maria Teresa Belandria, take the helm of the embassy.

Hundreds of supporters of both President Maduro and his rival Guaidó went to the embassy to watch for subsequent developments. Some politicians were also present at the scene to mediate talks, including Coordinator-General for Privileges and Immunities of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry Maurício Correia.

Back to normality

Earlier on, the president’s Institutional Security Office (GSI) reported in a note that “the president was never aware of—much less encouraged—the invasion of the embassy of Venezuela by supporters of Mr. Juan Guaidó.”

The accusations, the note goes to read, are being made by “unscrupulous and rash individuals attempting to take advantage of recent occurrences to bring about disorder and instability,” adding that “security forces of the federal government and the government of the Federal District are taking action so that the situation is tackled peacefully.”