Venezuela's foreign ministry says diplomatic relations with Paraguay have been severed

Venezuela rejected the statements of Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, who during a meeting with fugitive Venezuelan ex-candidate Edmundo Gonzalez recognized him as the winner of the election, and decided to sever diplomatic relations with the country. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 6.

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the statements of Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, who, ignoring international law and the principle of non-intervention, returns to a failed practice reminiscent of the political fantasies of the defunct Lima Group," the ministry said in the statement, which was published in the Telegram channel by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil Pinto.

The statement regretted that the Paraguayan authorities continue to subordinate their foreign policy to the interests of foreign powers, thus promoting programs that seek to undermine democratic principles and the will of free peoples.

"In this context, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided, in the full order of its sovereignty, to sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of Paraguay and proceed to the immediate withdrawal of diplomatic personnel accredited in that country," the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said.

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Earlier, on November 28, Venezuela's national assembly (parliament) unanimously approved a law that could lead to a ban on holding public office for up to 60 years for those who support sanctions against the country. A conviction under the bill is punishable by at least 25 years in prison.

Prior to that, on November 27, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed restrictions on 21 Venezuelan citizens allegedly linked to the state's President Nicolas Maduro. It is specified that those who are current or former officials of the Venezuelan government are subject to the restrictions.

The Venezuelan presidential election was held on July 28, Nicolas Maduro won the election. Speaking to supporters outside the presidential palace, the politician said his success was a "triumph of peace and stability" and shows that Venezuela's electoral system is "transparent."