MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Sunday, Venezuela held an election to select members of a Constituent Assembly, a body that would have the power to rewrite constitution, amid domestic protests and international criticism.
"There is an urgent need for the [Venezuelan] government to begin serious negotiations with the opposition on the solution to the crisis and to accept the mediation proposals from the countries in the region," the statement read.
The Foreign Ministry also said that the German government regretted the decision of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro to proceed with the vote despite resistance at home and advice to the contrary from abroad.
"In the opinion of the [German] federal government, the Constituent Assembly is not capable of leading Venezuela out of economic and social crisis," the statement read.
According to the statement, the international community has to focus on helping Venezuela find a non-violent solution to the crisis.
Berlin also condemned the disproportionate use of violence by the country's security forces, and expressed condolences to victims and their families.
The protests ahead of the assembly's election resulted in at least 10 deaths, while the total number of fatalities in months of protests is more than 100. The unrest flared up in April when the country's top court decided to curb the legislative powers of the National Assembly. The decision was reversed, but the protests continued.
