Russian firms being pushed out of Venezuela after Maduro's capture — FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Russian companies are being pushed out of Venezuela following the abduction of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

He made the remarks in an interview with local outlet Russia Today (RT), per Caliber.Az.

“Right now, following the events in Venezuela, our companies are being openly pushed out of the country,” Lavrov told the interviewer.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev also commented on the U.S. abduction of Maduro in an op-ed for Russian media.

Medvedev noted that the events that unfolded in Caracas in early 2026 represent a “major geopolitical earthquake,” forcing a reconsideration of the foundations of the world order established 80 years ago after World War II.

In early January 2026, U.S. military forces launched a large‑scale operation in Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken to the United States following attacks on military targets in and around Caracas. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the capture, describing the military action as successful. Maduro now faces criminal charges in U.S. federal court, including drug trafficking and narco‑terrorism charges.

By Khagan Isayev