File Photo: Vassily Nebenzia (R), Russian permanent representative to the United Nations, shakes hands with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza during a Security Council emergency meeting on the situation in Venezuela, at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told reporters on Wednesday that his country is "categorically" against regime change in Venezuela.

"Russia is categorically against this regime change that we see is being implemented," said Nebenzia, adding that he hopes that "there are no foreign troops whatsoever coming to Venezuela from whatever country."

Nebenzia made the remarks when speaking to the press on the second anniversary of former Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin's death.

Churkin died in New York on Feb. 20, 2017, the eve of his 65th birthday. The immediate cause was heart failure, according to Russian diplomat Sergei Ordzhonikidze. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Churkin died while at work and expressed condolences to Churkin's family.