The USA has introduced new sanctions against Venezuela, this time against two companies that supplied oil to Cuba as well as 34 vessels of the PDVSA oil company. Washington stated: "The new sanctions were imposed at the request of the National Assembly." As in, at the request of Juan Guaido. Washington also added that they're considering a military scenario. It's important to remember that Guaido was deprived of parliamentary immunity for his calls for foreign intervention. The decision was made by the alternative Constituent Assembly, which was elected by the people as well. In other words, the Venezuelans like baseball but not everyone there wants to see the USA as the umpire.
Reporting from Caracas, where, despite the hardship, there are enough patriots who want to live the way they like, here's Valentin Bogdanov, our overseas correspondent.
The Talents in the Hood team is having an open training session. The equipment isn't that good but there's a desire to win.
Miguel Ancheta, coach: "We'll win because we're the best. We're a free country. We owe nothing to the USA. In Venezuela, we, Venezuelans, have the right to decide, they don't".
The Bolivarian Revolution appeared too tough for Guaido, the American protege. The United States failed with the Blitzkrieg in the Venezuelan direction. It failed to tighten the economic siege around the country as well. Despite the sanctions, the volume of oil exports from Venezuela didn't decline much. It was 980,000 barrels a day in March. That's just a little bit less than what it was in February.
Electricity in Venezuela is also inexpensive. In this barrios, as well as throughout the capital, the rolling blackouts ended only a few days ago. The authorities reported about sabotage and planned hacker attacks on the country's power system from abroad. In hospitals, generators were widely used. The nurses are Cubans, as is the head doctor. Liberty Island sends doctors to Venezuela although the situation in Cuba isn't that great either.
Alexander Figuerero Isaguirre, Center for General Medical Diagnostics: "Cuban medicine supports all countries in the world that need it, countries that need Cuban medicine. We go and work there because our medicine is solidarity medicine. That's what our Comandante Fidel taught us. We are that taught medicine is not only for the rich, it's for everyone who needs it".
The equipment here isn't up-to-date but it's in working condition. There are 44 such centers in Caracas alone. They do fall short of medicines sometimes. Here is a poster that advertises the healing properties of avocado and cucumber. But medical treatment is free here.
Irma de Ortega: I've been here since last Friday. I got an infection. I'm being treated here. I'm getting better.
- Everything's free of charge here?
Yes, it's free.
The United States hoped the military would side with Guaido. It even convinced its allies, who subsequently recognized him. However, the candidate is questionable, even for the Venezuelan opposition. In all, it won't be easy for Washington with such allies. However, for the current U.S. administration, Venezuela is both a foreign and domestic project. Referring to Caracas, Trump shows his voters the internal enemy, the Democrats. Venezuela is a mess.
Donald Trump: "This is what socialism brings. You elect a socialist here, you'll get a country like Venezuela".
Washington still considers Guaido the head of Venezuela. Here, at the entrance of one of the offices of an energy company, the impostor is gathering his supporters to start the first phase of a certain "freedom" operation. For Guaido himself, his freedom may end up with his arrest. The main crime being his repeated calls for foreign intervention.
Valentin Bogdanov, Ivan Utkin, Saturday Vesti from Caracas.
