MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Venezuelan Ambassador to Moscow Jesus Salazar Velasquez commended Russia’s firm criticism of the US kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores at a rally a month into the situation.

"On behalf of the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, I would like to thank everybody present here for coming today and I would like to emphasize the strong position taken by the Russian government regarding the kidnapping of our President Nicolas Maduro," the Venezuelan diplomat said, addressing the rally.

"A global rally was organized to push for the restoration of our statehood and the return of the president and the first lady as soon as possible. And here today, we express our support as we demand jointly with our Russian brothers that the president and the first lady be returned to their homeland," the ambassador added.

Venezuela’s top diplomat Yvan Gil Pinto said on January 3 that the United States had attacked civilian and military facilities in Caracas. US President Donald Trump later confirmed the attack on Venezuela, saying that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and taken out of the country.

On January 5, the couple appeared before the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, where they face charges of alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Both pleaded not guilty. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president. Meanwhile, Trump said that Washington would "run" Venezuela in the interim.