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Welcoming committee at the airport. July, 2006 // Under President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela was one of Russia's most important trading and military allies in Latin America. He played a very important role in the development of relations between two countries.
ITAR-TASS
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In the city of Volgograd, Russia. July, 2006 // The Soviet Union had established diplomatic relations with Venezuela on March 3, 1945 (severed on June 13, 1952, and then restored on April 16, 1970). Chavez first took office in 1999. His first visit to Russia was in 2001. Since that he visited Russia almost every year.
ITAR-TASS
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Hugo Chavez and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Caracas, Venezuela. November, 2008. // Much of bilateral relations was through the sale of military equipment; since 2005, Venezuela has purchased more than $4 billion worth of arms from Russia.
ITAR-TASS
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Hugo Chavez and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Caracas, Venezuela. April, 2010. // Venezuela became one of three nations worldwide to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as countries independent of Georgia.
ITAR-TASS
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Hugo Chavez shows photos of Russian cars to the audience in Caracas, Venezuela. April, 2010. // The two countries discussed the creation of a bi-national investment bank, the opening of a direct air route between Caracas and Moscow, the building of an aluminum plant, the construction of a gas platform off the Venezuelan coast, plans for automobile production, and Venezuela's acquisition of Russian planes and ships.
ITAR-TASS
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Hugo Chavez in Simon Bolivar University, Moscow, Russia. June, 2007. // Venezuela sought to develop mines at its largest gold deposits with Russian help. In 2009 Russia approved a $2 billion loan to Venezuela.
ITAR-TASS
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Hugo Chavez shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia. October, 2010. // In October 2011, Chavez has got a $4 billion loan to purchase Russian weapons. And for 2011, Venezuela was the top customer for Russia's arms for ground forces.
ITAR-TASS
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Hugo Chavez takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, Russia. October, 2010. // On March 6, 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Chavez was a close friend to Russia. Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that Russians feel very badly about his death.
Reuters
