Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Diplomatic Times  /  Supporters of  interim president Juan Guaidó demand that the pro-Maduro activists leave the Venezuela Embassy located on 30th Street N.W. in the tony Georgetown section of Washington D.C. The  U.S. Secret Service Police have been stationed around the Venezuela embassy since the takeover by the Maduro supporters last month. 

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON D.C.  –   Power and water was cut off  Wednesday night at the Venezuela embassy in the Georgetown section of Washington D.C.,  adding a twist to the battle for control of the besieged diplomatic compound. For weeks,  an activist group that supports embattled Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro has been protesting and living inside of the Venezuela Embassy in Washington D.C. The group, which calls themselves the Code Pink, has been occupying the embassy since April 14.  They say they are living there in order to “protect”  the embassy from takeover by representatives of  “interim president” Juan Guaidó, who they contend is Trump’s puppet mounting a coup against the Maduro government. Meanwhile, Venezuelan supporters of Guaidó have staged counter-protests daily and have vowed to take back what they claim is their embassy. Maduro invited American activists who see him as Venezuela’s legitimate leader into the embassy a month ago as the United States and another 50 countries recognized Guaidó as president and severed ties with his government.  After the embassy was officially closed, the diplomats left, but the activists stayed. But time may be running out for the  pro-Maduro activists who  are now living inside the embassy with no power, water, and there are reports that police are not allowing anyone to bring food to them. No food, no water, no electricity. Things can get tough now. However, the activists inside vow to remain there even without  power or water. What has been unfolding at the Venezuelan embassy over the past few weeks is unprecedented – a group of American activists occupying a diplomatic facility in the nation’s capital.   Police and Secret Service agents have arrested nine activists — including Gerry Condone, a 72 year-old Vietnam War vet and the president of Veterans For Peace, who was tackled and pressed to the pavement Wednesday by five officers, after he tried to bring food to protesters occupying the embassy. 

Statement from the Embassy Protection Collective after US authorities cut the power to the besieged Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. pic.twitter.com/TFqyDcIf7K

— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) May 9, 2019

There have also been increased arrests of pro-Maduro activists. The U.S. State Department maintains that the activists are trespassing Venezuelan sovereign territory and need to leave.  

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Diplomatic Times /  U.S. Secret Service Police have been stationed around the Venezuela embassy since the takeover by the pro-Maduro activists. 

Guaidó  Venezuelan Supporters Want  American “Invaders”  Evicted From  “Our”    Embassy 

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Diplomatic Times /  Supporters of  interim president Juan Guaidó   in front of Venezuela Embassy located on 30th Street N.W. in D.C. 

Photo by  Gary Raynaldo /  Diplomatic Times /   Angry  Guaidó supporter displays her ID card proofing she is a Venezuelan citizen. She  says the embassy is the property of the Venezuelan people, not the American activists currently occupying the diplomatic compound.  

Meanwhile,  Venezuela interim president Guaidó’s appointed Ambassador of the DC Embassy,  diplomat Carlos Vecchio , an ambassador without an embassy, tweets:

“To the invaders of our Embassy who comfortably defend the usurping regime, we have decided to give them a bit of the experience of living in #Venezuela under the failed socialism of Maduro. As of this moment they will not have electric power.”

-Venezuelan diplomat Carlos Vecchio 

A los invasores de nuestra Embajada que defienden cómodamente al régimen usurpador, hemos decidido darles un poco de la experiencia de vivir en #Venezuela bajo el socialismo fracasado de Maduro.

A partir de este momento no tendrán energía eléctrica.

Próximo paso: su salida. pic.twitter.com/0yMUDgfnXb

— CARLOS VECCHIO (@carlosvecchio) May 9, 2019