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Venezuela

Rory Branker disappeared; joins 5 other news professionals detained in Venezuela

"A contributor to the digital outlet La Patilla, Rory Branker, 43, was arrested on Feb. 20, 2025, in Caracas by officers of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN, for its initials in Spanish) as he was leaving his home. He spent 206 days incommunicado before his family was finally allowed to see him in a holding cell of the […]

Chilean journalist says Venezuelan intelligence held him for six hours

“Chilevisión correspondent Roberto Cox said Dec. 16 that he was detained for six hours by Venezuela’s military counterintelligence agency at a border outpost. The incident occurred after an episode at the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge, which connects Cúcuta, Colombia, with Ureña, Venezuela. Cox described what happened in a post on Instagram. ‘Six hours […]

News team from Argentina expelled from Venezuela

"The press team from the Argentinian channel C5N, consisting of journalists Nicolás Monafó and Adrián Salonia, and cameraman Sebastián Solís, were expelled from Maiquetía International Airport in Venezuela on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Salonia reported on his Instagram account that after the plane landed at 2:00 a.m., the airport's immigration team demanded their documents, took […]

Venezuela’s El Pitazo suspects cyberattack after website knocked offline

“Venezuelan news outlet El Pitazo said Monday that its website has been offline since Nov. 21 for reasons that remain unknown. In a statement, the outlet said the company that hosts its site — Contabo — reported all its information stored on the server had been deleted and that it did not know how it […]

Venezuelan journalist Joan Camargo regains his freedom after 100 hours missing

"Venezuelan journalist Joan Camargo was released on Tuesday [Nov. 4], after being forcibly disappeared for more than 100 hours. It remains unclear who was responsible for his abduction, and details surrounding his release have not yet been disclosed. The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP, by its Spanish acronym) was the first organization to report […]

Ortega, Maduro and Milei among 2025’s press freedom predators, RSF says

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) included Latin American figures in its 2025 edition of Press Freedom Predators who, according to its criteria, represent persistent threats to journalism. Among them are three presidents: Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, accused of imprisoning and expelling journalists, closing media outlets, and eliminating all independent press; Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, whose regime […]

Another journalist kidnapped in Venezuela

“By 8 a.m. Friday, 24 hours had passed without news of the whereabouts of young journalist Joan Camargo, who was intercepted by hooded men as he left his home in the Cotiza section of Caracas. According to the National Union of Press Workers, Camargo was leaving on his motorcycle when he was ambushed and taken […]

Venezuelan radio outlets ordered to stay silent on attack against exiled activists, press union says

“Venezuela’s National Press Workers Union (SNTP for its initials in Spanish) condemned on Tuesday, Oct. 14, a new episode of systematic censorship against journalists and radio programs in Venezuela, following an order banning any mention of the attack against two exiled Venezuelan activists in Bogotá, Colombia. According to the union, several nationwide radio networks received […]

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 […]