U.S. Seeks UN Security Council Vote on New Venezuela Resolution

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. is seeking a United Nations Security Council vote on a new draft of a resolution on Venezuela, according to a diplomat at the UN.

The resolution, which would likely face a Russian veto, stresses “the need to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and to facilitate unhindered access and delivery of assistance to all in need,” according to a draft of the text obtained by Bloomberg. It also calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to “ensure free, fair, and credible presidential elections.”

The document would also ask Security Council member nations to note “the constitutional authority of the democratically elected National Assembly” and “provide appropriate amnesties for civil and military officials in support of the National Assembly in the restoration of democracy and rule of law in Venezuela."

Violence has raged along Venezuela's borders as National Assembly leader Juan Guaido and his supporters -- which include the U.S. and 50 other nations -- amassed supplies at entry points in Colombia and Brazil. The aid was meant to sustain an oil-rich country brought low by years of corruption and mismanagement.

The humanitarian relief was also was meant to demonstrate the leadership of Guaido, 35, who claims the constitution makes him the rightful leader because autocratic President Nicolas Maduro stole last year's election.

Moscow and Washington have been circulating rival resolutions on the Venezuelan crisis to a divided Security Council. In order to pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and none of the five permanent members -- the U.K., the U.S., Russia, France and China -- can oppose.

In a highly charged debate at the UN on Tuesday, U.S. Special Envoy on Venzuela Elliott Abrams accused Russia of reviving Cold War policies and warned that Guaido's safety is at risk. Russia's envoy Vassily Nebenzya, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of using humanitarian aid as a cover for its efforts to militarily topple the Nicolas Maduro regime.

To contact the reporters on this story: Laura Curtis in Washington at lcurtis7@bloomberg.net;David Wainer in New York at dwainer3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Kasia Klimasinska at kklimasinska@bloomberg.net, Sara Forden