Written by: La Tabla/Data Journalism Platform 4 FEB 2026
A news story claiming that Russia is “distancing itself” from the new Venezuelan government is false. It originated from a manipulated interpretation of a report from the Portuguese agency SDP, which misrepresented routine statements from the Kremlin.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on January 19 that a call between President Vladimir Putin and the acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez “is not currently on the agenda,” clarifying that this contact “could be arranged quickly if the situation warrants.” This statement, which merely outlines the immediate diplomatic agenda, was incorrectly presented as a sign of political estrangement.
Verified information directly contradicts this narrative. Peskov himself, in subsequent statements on January 26, reaffirmed that Russia maintains “constant and daily contact” with Venezuelan leadership, is well-acquainted with Delcy Rodríguez, and intends to continue all bilateral cooperation projects. The Russian Foreign Ministry has also expressed on multiple occasions its “unwavering solidarity” with the Venezuelan government.
Therefore, this news is a clear example of misinformation, where a clarification about diplomatic logistics was taken out of context to fabricate a nonexistent political rift. The official Russian stance remains one of support and continuity in its relationship with Venezuelan authorities.