BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — When Lorena Delgado approached the Venezuelan consulate in Colombia's capital on a recent afternoon hoping to extend the life of her expiring passport, she found the metal gates to the languishing building shuttered.

Days earlier, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had severed ties with the nation where over a million of his compatriots have fled, recalling all his diplomats and leaving the consulate and embassy buildings closed.

The man challenging Maduro's claim to the presidency had appointed a new ambassador, but he was at a loss about how to help her. He does not have access to the consulate or the ability to issue passport extensions.

As Venezuela's power struggle rages, a parallel dispute for control of embassy buildings in the countries recognizing Guaido as Venezuela's true president has taken root.