Mohamed rebuffs Venezuela connection, reaffirms support for Guyana’s sovereignty

Last Updated on Monday, 30 June 2025, 19:58 by Writer

The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader, Azruddin Mohamed, on Monday rebuffed claims by United States (U.S.) Republican Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez that is a “puppet candidate” of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro for the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections.

“Let me be absolutely clear: I reject Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo. I stand firmly for Guyana’s sovereignty. I always have and always will,” he said in a statement.

Mr Mohamed also threatened to take legal action against the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration for hiring a U.S. lobbying firm, Continental Strategy LLC, at US$50,000 per month to draft several posts on X, formerly Twitter.

“I am currently in consultation with my legal team about pursuing civil and criminal action against the Government of Guyana for issuing and financing these false claims through a registered foreign agent,” he said. He added that he was also exploring diplomatic channels to ensure this abuse is exposed globally.

Congressman Gimenez said earlier on Monday on X that “In the U.S. Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine #Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC! The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom — not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships.” Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed were sanctioned by the U.S. Office for Foreign Assets Control for allegedly evading US$50 million in taxes to the Guyana government on more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold exports.

However, Mr Mohamed accused the Irfaan Ali-led administration of pursing a “domestic political vendetta” on foreign soil, a new low in the history of Guyana’s democracy. He feared that Congressman Gimenez’s tweet, which was procured by Continental Strategy LLC, endangers him. “By falsely linking me to a hostile regime, the government is deliberately placing my safety and that of my family at risk. They are attempting to criminalize dissent and delegitimize my candidacy not through debate, but through deception and fearmongering.

The WIN Leader said the Guyana government’s weaponised State funds to smear political opponents through a foreign lobbying campaign to “falsely” portray him as an agent of the Maduro regime. He accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of paying the American lobbying firm to distribute defamatory materials to American lawmakers and push inflammatory, misleading tweets describing him as a “pro-Maduro puppet” and a “threat to democracy.”

He said the resort by the Guyana government follows a deeply troubling pattern by this administration that includes the stalking of opposition figures by State-aligned security firms, and weaponisation of State media to defame critics. Mr Mohamed, a former close friend of President Irfaan Ali, said if the government could take those actions against him, “they can do it to anyone.” “We must not allow this dangerous precedent to stand,” he said.