GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Presidential candidate, Azruddin Mohamed, has dismissed a statement by a United States Congressman that he is a “puppet candidate” of Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro and is blaming the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of being behind the allegations.
Azruddin Mohamed (File Photo)“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,” Mohamed said in a statement.
Republican Carlos A. Gimenez in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday said Mohamed was being used by the Venezuelan government to erode Guyana in the September 1 general and regional elections.
“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,” he wrote.
But in his statement, Mohamed has threatened to take legal action against the ruling administration for hiring a US lobbying firm, Continental Strategy LLC, at US$50,000 per month to draft several posts on X.
“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, adding that he is also exploring diplomatic channels to ensure this abuse is exposed globally.
Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed were sanctioned by the U.S. Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for allegedly evading US$50 million in taxes to the Guyana government on more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold exports.
Mohamed has accused the Irfaan Ali-led administration of pursing a “domestic political vendetta” on foreign soil, and fears that the statement by the US legislator will endanger his life.
“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.”
Mohamed, who is also the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, said the Guyana government has weaponized State funds to smear political opponents through a foreign lobbying campaign to “falsely” portray him as an agent of the Maduro regime.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had paid 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 weaponization of State media to defame critics.
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.
Mohamed is expected to challenge Ali and the nominee of the main opposition parties, for the position of head of state during the elections. Nomination Day is July 14.
