Russia urges US to release Maduro, his wife

MOSCOW -- Russia strongly urges the US leadership to release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, the Russian foreign ministry said Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry called on the United States to reconsider its position regarding Maduro and his wife.

The statement also stressed the need to create conditions for resolving any existing issues between the United States and Venezuela through dialogue.

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will continue to support the course pursued by the Venezuelan government to protect its national interests and sovereignty during his phone call with Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Lavrov expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of US armed aggression, and both sides spoke in favor of preventing further escalation and finding a way out of the situation through dialogue, the ministry said in another statement.

The two parties expressed their intention to further strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, it added.