By Muhammed Emin Canik</p> <p>BUENOS AIRES (AA) – Argentinian government on Wednesday condemned a Venezuelan court decision barring self-declared president Juan Guaido from leaving the country and ordering an asset freeze. </p> <p>Argentinian Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie rejected and lashed out the court decision, tweeting:</p> <p>"This measure, requested by Attorney General Tarek William Saab, constitutes a new attack on civil liberties and a further example of the policy of harassment of the mature usurper regime @jguaido."
On Tuesday, Venezuela's Supreme Court, which remains loyal to Maduro, froze Guaido’s bank accounts and prohibited him from leaving the country, stating that the opposition leader has “caused harm to peace in the republic.”
Chief Justice Maikel Moreno said the court was initiating a preliminary investigation and the precautionary measures against Guaido were designed to safeguard the country's integrity.
On Jan. 23, Guaido, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, declared himself interim president.
Guaido claimed that the main opposition had boycotted the elections, so even if Nicholas Maduro received 68 percent of the vote, he allegedly had no legitimacy.
Shortly after Guaido’s declaration, the U.S. recognized him as interim president, followed by Australia, Canada, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Argentine, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
On the other hand, Mexico, Russia, Cuba, China and Bolivia voiced support for elected President Maduro to stay in office, as did Turkey.
When the U.S. urged countries worldwide to take sides, several European countries backed Guaido and called on Maduro to leave the post.
On Jan. 26, Germany, Britain, France and Spain gave Maduro an ultimatum, saying that unless he announces early elections within eight days, they would support Guaido.
The EU also joined their call for snap elections.
Maduro announced that he had cut diplomatic ties with the U.S., claiming that they are facing a coup attempt by Washington and had given American diplomats working at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas 72 hours to leave the country.
Maduro said Guaido’s act violated the Constitution and the law, and that the judiciary had to step in.
