Two days after the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. authorities, the Venezuelan National Union of Press Workers (SNTP, by its acronym in Spanish) warned that a democratic transition in Venezuela is impossible while political persecution, censorship, arbitrary detentions and the systematic violation of fundamental rights persist. In a statement released on Jan. 5, 2026, the union said that these practices have weakened the practice of journalism, public debate and the public's right to be informed.
The SNTP demanded the immediate release of at least 23 journalists and media workers who remain detained “unjustly and arbitrarily” for their reporting or for exercising their right to freedom of expression. It also denounced the blocking of more than 60 online media outlets, which it described as a form of structural censorship.
Furthermore, the union called on the government to guarantee genuine security for journalists and media outlets, so they can cover matters of public interest without reprisals, persecution or criminalization.
