Russian lawmaker condemns US military operation against Venezuela

MOSCOW -- A US military operation against Venezuela has no legitimate basis since the South American country has posed no threat to the United States, Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia's Federation Council, said on Saturday.

"Without any doubt, Venezuela has created no threats to the United States -- neither military, nor humanitarian, nor criminal, nor drug-related," Kosachev wrote on his Telegram channel.

"Therefore, the current military operation, like the actions taken against Venezuela over recent days and weeks, has no substantive grounds," he said.

Kosachev stressed that the international order should be based on international law rather than on so-called rules imposed by individual countries. He said international law has clearly been violated, adding that "an order established in this manner must not prevail."

Kosachev also expressed confidence that most nations would firmly distance themselves from the attack on Venezuela and condemn it.