Venezuela's Guaido says Maduro not protecting Russian, Chinese investment

The self-proclaimed Venezuelan acting president and the leader of the country's National Assembly, Juan Guaido, told the CNN broadcaster in Spanish that Venezuelan incumbent president, Nicolas Maduro, was not protecting Chinese and Russian investment into Venezuela.

"Russia and China definitely have their interests in Venezuela and billions in investment. Maduro, however ... is not protecting the investment," Guaido told the broadcaster.

According to the opposition leader, there are some states among China, Russia, Turkey and the United States that want to see the crisis-torn country change.

"I have no doubt that some of these countries are among those who want to see changes in Venezuela," Guaido added.

The politician proclaimed himself the Venezuelan interim president on January 23 after the National Assembly declared Maduro a usurper since the opposition-led legislature, and a number of foreign states, continue to insist that the president was unfairly re-elected in 2018.

The United States and a number of Latin and Central American countries immediately backed Guaido as acting Venezuelan president, calling for new "fair" presidential election to be organized in the country.

Maduro continues to insist that he is the only constitutional Venezuelan leader and accuses Guaido of being a US puppet and Washington of organizing a coup in Venezuela.

Such major powers as Russia and China, along with Turkey, refused to support the Venezuelan opposition's move, backing Maduro as the country's legitimate president and demanding that other countries respect the principle of non-interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.