Russian Mercenaries Providing Muscle for Venezuela’s Embattled Maduro by Venezuela Investigative Unit - Insight Crime
The suspected arrival of around 100 Russian mercenaries in Venezuela to provide protection for Nicolas Maduro has set alarm bells ringing internationally while heightening the sense of insecurity surrounding the president and his entourage.
Two groups arrived from Russia, one ahead of presidential elections in May 2018 and another in recent days, The Moscow Times reported. The arrivals were apparently spread out with the men arriving either in Venezuela or in neighboring countries in smaller pairings to avoid drawing attention.
The arrival of these alleged mercenaries does not come by chance but at a moment when Maduro is facing arguably the toughest test to his rule yet. Opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, has named himself as interim president of Venezuela and has rejected Maduro as a fraud.
This situation has divided the international community, with the likes of Russia and China sticking by Maduro while the United States, Canada and most of Latin America have recognized Guaidó…