On October 15, gubernatorial elections were held in Venezuela. Candidates from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela won 17 out of the 22 seats (the results for the Bolivar State are yet to be announced).

We proceed from the assumption that the elections that Venezuelan and foreign politicians, even those opposing the Government of President Nicholas Maduro, actively described as highly important, will mark a new step towards consolidating the society. This is needed to address urgent economic as well as social problems facing the country. Voting, on the whole, took place in a calm atmosphere and the turnout was 61.4 per cent. The population showed that it adheres to civilised and, above all, electoral forms of resolving political differences.

Against this background, the opposition forces’ refusal to recognise the election results and their calls for resuming street protests and tighter international sanctions are potentially dangerous. They can “break” the emerging compromise scenario and spark a new round of violent confrontation.

We are urging all Venezuelan political forces to refrain from violent and provocative steps. It is extremely necessary to continue constructive dialogue on the basis of democratic norms and constitutional legitimacy.

We are convinced that the main task of the international and regional community is to help create appropriate conditions for a peaceful end to the political crisis in Venezuela. It is necessary to actively support proposals for talks between the Government and the opposition and to prevent any attempts of destructive outside interference.  The counter-productiveness of power politics and sanctions pressure on Venezuela is obvious.