MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Any operations providing assistance to Venezuela which are not authorized by the country's official administration are happening to cover the organization of a military conflict and intervention, Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the Federation Council's International Affairs Committee, said.
"There is information that direct military provocations associated with the supply of alleged humanitarian cargo from the neighboring countries, in particular, from Colombia, to the territory of Venezuela are possible this coming weekend, on February 23-24," Kosachyov said at a meeting with Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.
"Any such operations not authorized by the official administration of Venezuela are essentially nothing other than cover operations to provoke clashes, a military conflict, and to carry out military intervention in your country in a situation of chaos and mess," the senator said.
"We are convinced that any humanitarian assistance to Venezuela has a right to exist, for the implementation of relevant projects with the approval of the official, legitimate administration of Venezuela," he said.
Russia is closely following the development of this situation and will continue to do so over the coming weekend, he said.
"If need be, we will be ready to give relevant evaluations at the level of the Federation Council," the senator said.