The two Spanish nationals arrested in Venezuela are not connected to the Spanish secret service and Spain has not participated in any plan for political destabilization of the South American country, a source from the Spanish Ministry said, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Two Spaniards, three Americans and a Czech citizen were arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of links to an alleged plot to undermine the government of President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's interior minister announced yesterday.
"Spain denies and categorically rejects any insinuation that it is involved in an operation for political destabilization in Venezuela,” said a source from the Spanish Foreign Ministry.
"The government has confirmed that (the two Spanish nationals) who have been detained are not part of the National Intelligence Center or any government organization. Spain defends a democratic and peaceful solution to the situation in Venezuela.“
The arrests are likely to deepen Venezuela's already strained relations with Spain and the US after the disputed results of July's presidential election.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told the media yesterday that two Spaniards are allegedly linked to the Spanish secret services and planned the assassination of a mayor.
Yesterday, the US State Department said that “all allegations of US involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false”.
The first diplomat of the European Union, Josep Borrell, today called "dictatorial” Maduro's government during an interview with Spanish television Telecinco.
Caracas was also angered by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez meeting with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who went into exile in Spain last week after being threatened with arrest.
Tensions between Venezuela and the US also rose after Washington named Urrutia the winner of the July 28 election.