Kremlin: Venezuela's Opposition Must Accept Defeat And Congratulations To Maduro Election Winner

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro/PHOTO via Instagram @nicolasmaduro

JAKARTA - The Kremlin has encouraged political opposition leaders in Venezuela to accept what Moscow calls their defeat and congratulate incumbent Nicolas Maduro on his election victory.

Maduro and its rivals from oppositionruno Gonzalez both claimed victory in the presidential election and anti-Maduro protests have been 'deleting' in the South American country.

"We see that the opposition does not want to accept defeat, but we believe the opposition must do this, must congratulate the winner of this election," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He said external powers should not seek to trigger instability in Venezuela, which has become Russia's main ally under the Maduro socialist government, after Washington and several other foreign governments cast doubt on the official results of the election.

"It is imperative that efforts to shake up the situation in Venezuela not be triggered by third countries, third parties, and Venezuela free from external interference," Peskov added.