France protests treatment at Embassy in Venezuela

France's ambassador to Venezuela, Romain Nadal, during a press conference in Caracas alongside the self-proclaimed Venezuelan president Juan Guaido, on February 19, 2019. Federico Parra / AFP

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The Quai d'Orsay denounces a series of measures taken by the Venezuelan authorities against its diplomatic representation in Caracas. For ten days, the street of the residence of the French ambassador has been blocked by a filtering dam, while the electricity and gas have been cut.

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With our correspondent at Caracas ,  Benjamin Delille

The current often jumps in Caracas, but the blackout that has been going on since May 3 in the residence of Romain Nadal, French ambassador to Venezuela, seems to be intentional.

In any case, it coincides with the installation, at the end of the street, of a Sebin filter dam, the Venezuelan intelligence services.

Relations have deteriorated for over a year

The Quai d'Orsay has twice summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to France this week to ask for explanations. Because the Venezuelan authorities have not justified the presence of this dam or these gas and electricity cuts. They also did not summon Romain Nadal to blame him for anything.

The fact remains that relations between France and Venezuela have deteriorated since Paris recognized Juan Guaido as interim president in February 2019. And they got even worse this year when the ambassador went to welcome the Venezuelan opponent upon his return from an international tour which notably led him to the Élysée. Support strongly criticized by "the other" president, Nicolas Maduro himself.

However, according to the French authorities, the measures taken by Caracas violate the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

► Read also:  Juan Guaido looking for a new lease of life a year after his self-proclamation

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  • France
  • Venezuela
  • Nicolas Maduro
  • Juan Guaido

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