• Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accuses the opposition of coordinating vandalism at diplomatic facilities.
• Incidents reported in Portugal, Germany, Spain, Colombia, and Costa Rica shortly after Maduro's election.
• Gil claims grassroots groups, referred to as "comanditos," are responsible but offers no evidence.
• Portugal's Foreign Ministry condemned the vandalism and enhanced security at the Venezuelan consulate.
• The opposition's legitimate election victory claims have intensified tensions amidst these accusations.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil publicly accused the opposition of coordinating vandalism attacks on the country's diplomatic facilities in at least five countries. This accusation came just three days after President Nicolás Maduro was inaugurated for a controversial third term, amid critiques regarding the legitimacy of his electoral win. Gil remarked that the vandalism was perpetrated by small activist groups known as "comanditos", yet he provided no concrete evidence to support his claims, a move that has raised eyebrows both domestically and internationally. He called upon the governments of Portugal, Germany, Spain, Colombia, and Costa Rica to expedite their inquiries into these incidents to safeguard the integrity of Venezuelan diplomatic missions.

In Lisbon, police are currently investigating a recent vandalism incident where an incendiary device was used against Venezuela's consulate, causing minor exterior damage. Portugal's Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the attack as an "intolerable act" and vowed to enhance security measures in the area. This sequence of attacks comes at a time when the Venezuelan government faces increased scrutiny due to its disputed election results, with credible reports suggesting that opposition candidate Edmundo González won by a significant margin, contrary to the official declaration that favored Maduro.

Images published by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry depicted an array of vandalized properties, including one instance showing the national flag marred with the name "Edmundo", directly referencing the opposition figure recognized by various governments as the rightful election victor. The Venezuelan National Electoral Council, perceived to be heavily biased, made the controversial announcement of Maduro's victory without the usual transparency seen in democratic processes.

Following these disturbances, the main opposition coalition has yet to respond to the accusations levied by Gil. Observers are closely monitoring the situation, as the escalation of hostilities could have further implications not only for Venezuela's political landscape but also for its diplomatic relations abroad, particularly in nations with large Venezuelan immigrant populations.

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