BiH foreign ministry calls Maduro a dictator, supports Venezuelan people

In a statement published on X, the Ministry said it supports the Venezuelan people and urged all political actors to act responsibly in order to prevent further escalation and suffering.

“We express our support for the people of Venezuela and for stability in the country and the wider region. We call on all actors to act rationally, responsibly, and with restraint, in order to prevent further escalation and suffering,” the Ministry said.

The Bosnian foreign ministry directly accused Maduro of ruling through repression rather than democratic legitimacy.

“Nicolás Maduro is a dictator who has ruled through fear, the use of force, the military and police, full control of the media, and other repressive instruments,” the statement reads.

According to the Ministry, Maduro’s grip on power has not been based on free and fair elections, but on electoral manipulation and systematic repression.

“His hold on power has not been based on free and fair elections, but on electoral fraud and manipulation, as well as the systematic repression of political opponents and student activism through arrests, intimidation, and threats,” it said.

The Ministry also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of Maduro’s rule, pointing to mass emigration and widespread poverty.

“During his rule, more than 8 million people have been forced to leave the country. Today, over 90% of the population lives in poverty, with 70% living in extreme poverty,” the statement said, describing the situation as “a profound political, social, and humanitarian failure.”

In its message, the Ministry drew parallels between authoritarian practices in Venezuela and those seen elsewhere, including in the Western Balkans.

“All political dictators behave in a similar manner and employ the same repressive methods, including those from our own political reality in this part of the world,” it added.

The statement concluded by reaffirming Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strategic alignment with the United States.

“The United States is the most important strategic partner and friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Ministry said.