Overview
- Alexander Lukashenko said Nicolás Maduro is a strong, principled leader who would not flee, likening him to Hugo Chávez.
- He stated that Belarus would welcome Maduro if he chose to come, stressing there had been no such discussions.
- Lukashenko rejected rumors of any agreement for Maduro to relocate and said he has spoken more with Americans about Venezuela than with Maduro about stepping down.
- The comments were delivered to Newsmax in an interview with Greta Van Susteren, noted by RIA as the spouse of the U.S. special envoy to Belarus after meetings in Minsk on December 12–13.
- BelTA and the presidential Telegram channel released excerpts, with TASS and RIA Novosti amplifying the statements.