Kremlin Spokesman Refutes Reports of Russian Military Presence in Venezuela

VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) - Media reports claiming that Russian military contractors have arrived in Venezuela to reinforce the security of President Nicolas Maduro are untrue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

"Fear sees danger everywhere. Of course not," Peskov told the Rossiya 1 broadcaster when asked whether it was true that Russian military were protecting Maduro in Venezuela.

READ MORE: Russian Ambassador Says Reports on Alleged Russian Mercenaries in Venezuela Hoax

The Reuters news agency reported on Friday citing sources that Russian private military contractors flew into Venezuela to help guard Maduro amid ongoing protests in the country. Russian Ambassador in Caracas Vladimir Zaemsky told Sputnik that the report was "another hoax."

On Wednesday, Juan Guaido, the head of Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself the country's interim president in a move that had been recognized by the United States and a number of other countries.

Russia, China, Mexico, Uruguay and other countries, on their part, have expressed support for Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, with Moscow expressing readiness to act as a mediator in the conflict between the government and the opposition.