texas-moody

Venezuela

Family confirms location of detained Venezuelan journalist Rory Branker after 206 days of enforced disappearance

"After 206 days of an enforced disappearance that kept his family and colleagues on tenterhooks, the location of journalist Rory Branker has been confirmed. He is being held in the cells of the Bolivarian National Police in Boleíta (Zone 7), Caracas, Venezuela. His mother was able to see him for the first time, as confirmed […]

Exiled Venezuelan journalist denounces threats of kidnapping against his family

"Venezuelan journalist and activist Melanio Escobar claimed that he has received new threats against his family from Chavista militants, whom he accused of being members of the Cartel de los Soles and the Tren de Aragua. 'The Chavistas who are members of the Cartel de los Soles and the Tren de Aragua threaten me daily […]

Mexican journalists deported after trying to enter Venezuela

"Mexican journalists Israel Navarro and Gerardo Torres, special correspondents for Milenio, were deported from Venezuela after attempting to enter the country to cover the political crisis and the situation between the Nicolás Maduro government and the United States, which has caused tension in Venezuela. The journalists were detained and held incommunicado for nearly 24 hours […]

Venezuelan journalist and activist Pedro Guanipa is granted house arrest after 11 months in prison

"The National Association of Journalists (CNP, by its acronym in Spanish) of Venezuela celebrated the release from prison of opposition leader Pedro Guanipa, one of 13 political prisoners whose release was announced on Sunday [Aug. 24] by opposition sources, and demanded a ‘fair trial’ for the activist, who was granted precautionary measures. 'Although our colleague […]

Venezuelan journalist Víctor Ugas’ health deteriorates after a year in detention

"The Human Rights Committee of the Vente Venezuela party reported on Saturday [Aug. 16] the declining health of journalist Víctor Ugas, who has been detained since the disputed re-election of Nicolás Maduro in August 2024. The Voluntad Popular party warned last July that the journalist needed urgent medical attention, after suffering from fever for almost […]

Venezuela accounts for half of Latin America’s exiled journalists since 2018

"A total of 913 journalists have been forced to leave their countries in Latin America from 2018 to 2024 to protect their lives, safety, or freedom. This is according to the report “Displaced Voices: An X-ray of Latin American Journalistic Exile 2018–2024,” published by Proledi at the University of Costa Rica, along with Fundamedios (USA) […]

Venezuelan press union demands release of journalist held for 100 days without trial

"The young Venezuelan journalist Nakary Mena Ramos marked 100 days in detention on Wednesday, July 17. The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP for its initials in Spanish) called for her release, noting she is the only woman among the 20 journalists currently jailed in the country. Mena Ramos, a reporter for the outlet Impacto […]

Venezuelan journalist freed after nearly a year, but press union says 19 still jailed for reporting

"Venezuela’s National Union of Press Workers (SNTP for its initials in Spanish) reported the release of journalist José Gregorio Camero on the night of July 21. The SNTP said Camero, like the other jailed journalists, was unjustly detained. ‘We continue to demand the release of the other 19 journalists and press workers who remain behind […]

Mother of detained Venezuelan journalist demands information on son's health

"This Sunday [July 13], Yris Azócar, the mother of detained journalist Víctor Ugas, asked the Attorney General's Office, the Ombudsman's Office and the Venezuelan Penitentiary Ministry for information on the state of her son's health as a matter of urgency. 'I urgently need to know how my son, Víctor Andrés Ugas, is doing, if he […]

Armed motorcyclists destroy banner of jailed journalists in Venezuela

"Journalist's Day was not a day of celebration in Venezuela. Press workers, censored, persecuted, underpaid and almost exterminated, now have the duty to demand the freedom of some 20 of their colleagues detained by the regime. On July 4, they staged an eloquent scene by displaying on the façade of the National College of Journalists […]

Press unions demand freedom for 20 journalists and media workers detained in Venezuela

"The National Association of Journalists, the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP, for its acronym in Spanish), and the Circle of Photojournalists demanded the release of the 20 journalists and media workers detained in the country and paid tribute to their work and courage. The event, held at the National House of Journalists, brought together […]

Venezuelan influencer fatally shot during TikTok stream after alleging police corruption

"Gabriel Jesús Sarmiento Rodríguez recorded his own murder in a live Tiktok stream. The 25-year-old influencer died in his home in the El Piñonal sector, Aragua state, in the central region of Venezuela, at the hands of several armed men who had broken into his residence, according to the tiktoker's own narration. In the recording […]