Russian news agency TASS is reporting that Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA (Petroleos de Venezuela) “has denied Sunday reports that the Russian Gazprombank had decided to freeze its accounts.”
PDVSA reportedly made the statement on its Twitter account.
“PDVSA categorically denies a new attempt to disrupt the work of our oil industry with false news,” the statement said. According to PDVSA, the attack on the company was “orchestrated by representatives of the right wing and by American media.”
Reuters reported on Sunday that Russian lender Gazprombank has decided to freeze the accounts of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and halted transactions with the firm in order to reduce the risk of the bank falling under U.S. sanctions.
TASS said that against the political crisis in Venezuela, the U.S. tightened sanctions against the country. It reported that in late January, PDVSA came under the restrictions.
“Washington also announced the freezing of the company’s assets worth $7 bln. The U.S. is ready to ease sanctions only if control over the company passes to the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Juan Guaido, who declared himself the acting president of the country. The current president, Nicolas Maduro blasted the actions of Guaido who proclaimed himself the acting president as a coup,” TASS stated in its report.
According to the release, the U.S., the countries of the Lima Group (with the exception of Mexico), the Organization of American States, and a number of European countries have recognised Guaido as the new leader of Venezuela. However, Russia, Belarus, Bolivia, Iran, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria and Turkey in addition to Trinidad and Tobago in the region have expressed their support for Maduro.
