The Inter-American Dialogue on Similarities between Venezuela and Russia

According to Daniel Erikson of the Inter-American Dialogue, as told to Radio Free Europe:

"If you look at Russia under Putin there is a remarkable similarity to Venezuela under Chavez in so far as democratically elected leaders have systematically eliminated the chances of the opposition to wield any significant authority within the system and you see an increasing state presence in the media and distorting the independence of the rule of law."