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As Venezuelan People Suffer, Maduro Regime Hosts Lavish Summit

September 12, 2016

WASHINGTON – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement on the evening before the Non-Aligned Movement Summit begins in Venezuela.

"On the eve of the 'Non-Aligned Summit' in Venezuela, there have already been reports of intimidation and fears from protesters of acts of retaliation. Just last week, opposition leader Henrique Capriles was threatened at an airport by a group of armed regime thugs. While Venezuelans starve, inflation remains in triple digits, and many suffer from lack of basic medicines, the Maduro regime is spending extravagantly to prepare for summit attendees. As the Venezuelan people suffer at the hands of the Maduro regime, these delegates will feast on champagne, luxurious food, and will be greeted by a gaudy statue of Hugo Chavez recently erected outside the summit's hotel. Such lavish spending in the midst of this crisis reveals once again that the Maduro regime cares only about maintaining its ever tightening grip on power, and not the well-being of the Venezuelan people."

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