Exclusive: Kremlin-linked contractors help guard Venezuela's Maduro - sources

[Devil Child]

Source: Reuters

Private military contractors who do secret missions for Russia flew into Venezuela in the past few days to beef up security for President Nicolas Maduro in the face of U.S.-backed opposition protests, according to two people close to them.

A third source close to the Russian contractors also told Reuters there was a contingent of them in Venezuela, but could not say when they arrived or what their role was.

Russia, which has backed Maduro’s socialist government to the tune of billions of dollars, this week promised to stand by him after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself president with Washington’s endorsement.

It was the latest international crisis to split the global superpowers, with the United States and Europe backing Guaido, and Russia and China urging non-interference.


Read more: https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1PJ22Q

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Limited information in story, but important development to note if true as Russia has placed "boots on the ground" in Venezuela.

[EX500rider]

1. Most likely the Wagner Group:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagner_Group

"Some have described it as a private military company (or a private military contracting agency), whose contractors have reportedly taken part in various conflicts, including operations in the Syrian Civil War on the side of the Syrian government as well as, from 2014 until 2015, in the War in Donbass in Ukraine aiding the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Others are of the opinion that ChVK Wagner is really a unit of the Russian Ministry of Defence in disguise, which is used by the Russian government in conflicts where deniability is called for."

[Devil Child]

4. Wagner is who came to mind for me as well

They are an asset that Putin has used before as you have noted. Officially a PMC but in reality an organ of the Russian government.

[pecosbob]

2. Russia's Blackwater

[keithbvadu2]

11. and Russia's Erik Prince.

[David__77]

3. I can understand getting additional security to prevent kidnapping.

Chavez was kidnapped during the failed coup years ago. Perhaps if he had had a stronger personal guard, that wouldn't have happened.

[EX500rider]

5. Perhaps if he hadn't ruined the country it wouldn't be necessary...

Venezuelans reported losing on average 11 kilograms (24 lbs) in body weight last year and almost 90 percent now live in poverty.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-food/venezuelans-report-big-weight-losses-in-2017-as-hunger-hits-idUSKCN1G52HA

[Perseus]

7. He was not kidnapped, he was arrested

There is a big difference there.

If the orange buffoon gets arrested for treason you cannot claim that he was kidnapped. Do you think Roger Stone was kidnapped by the FBI this morning, or was he arrested?

[David__77]

9. Chavez was "arrested" in the sense that Pinochet would have arrested Allende, yes.

...

[EX500rider]

12. Actually he was arrested in the sense that he led a failed coup and WAS arrested by the govt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez#1992_coup_attempt

[David__77]

13. Yes, that's right. He was kidnapped in 2002.

...

[EX500rider]

14. When the govt arrests you for a failed coup, that is "arrested" not kidnapped. n/t

[David__77]

15. Chavez didn't lead a coup in 2002. He was kidnapped in 2002.

...

[EX500rider]

17. Maybe you should read up on the failed coup and arrest of Hugo. It is well known.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez#1992_coup_attempt

Chávez was arrested and imprisoned at the San Carlos military stockade, wracked with guilt and feeling responsible for the failure of the coup.

[David__77]

18. Yes, there was a coup and kidnapping, and then he was freed.

I get that some people thought the coup president Carmona was great and all.

[EX500rider]

19. I didn't see where anybody said Carmona was great, could you point it out to me?

I did see where some of us admit to reality, he lead a coup and got arrested.

[David__77]

21. Lots of people supported Carmona.

They cheered him.

https://m.

&t=0s&list=PL3Vb2bOfMYoMRRwJB8YTXfH0dEpI4Ywlx&index=2

Then the coup against Chavez failed and he was released from his kidnappers.

[EX500rider]

22. Chavez lead a failed coup against Carlos Andrs Prez. n/t

[David__77]

23. One does not preclude the other.

...

[Judi Lynn]

16. He was flown out of Venezuela and kept on an island off the coast. Why would you not remember?

On edit:

La Orchila



La Orchila is an island and a military base off the coast of Venezuela, north of Caracas.

. . .

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was imprisoned on the island during the April 2002 coup

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Orchila

[EX500rider]

20. He was moved to Yare prison.

Chávez was arrested and imprisoned at the San Carlos military stockade, wracked with guilt and feeling responsible for the failure of the coup. Pro-Chávez demonstrations outside San Carlos led to his transfer to Yare Prison.

Yare Prison is a prison in San Francisco de Yare, in the Simon Bolivar Municipality of Miranda State in Venezuela.
It is not on a island.

[Perseus]

6. Nothing new

The Cubans have been the bodyguards of both Chavez, when he was alive, and maduro now. Russia has been in Venezuela for some time, so is Iran, Hezbollah, China...

When you see "Colectivos" (Murderes on motorcycles), the majority are from Cuba.

I fear that things have become too intense with Russia so transparent about being there. I wish Obama had done more for Venezuela because Putin may not have liked Obama, but he respected him, and knew he had to be more cautious, but now he has his puppet so he feels he can do anything he wants.

It has been a puzzle to me why USA allowed the situation in Venezuela to get out of hand.

[pecosbob]

8. Because oil

[David__77]

10. Obama was right in not attacking Venezuela.

...