Venezuela / Americas

  
German journalist Billy Six seen in Damascus on March 5, 2013. Six was recently released from prison in Venezuela, where he had been held for nearly four months. (Louai Beshara/AFP)

German freelancer Billy Six freed, leaves Venezuela after 4 months in prison

New York, March 18, 2019 — German freelance reporter Billy Six returned to Germany yesterday after spending almost four months in detention in Venezuela, according to news reports.

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Caracas, Venezuela, seen on May 20, 2018. A Polish reporter was recently attacked by unknown assailants in Caracas. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

Polish reporter Tomasz Surdel assaulted in Venezuela

Miami, March 15, 2019 — Venezuelan authorities should conduct an urgent and thorough investigation into the violent assault of reporter Tomasz Surdel, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A member of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service stands guard in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 16, 2018. Journalist Luis Carlos Díaz was recently detained by intelligence agents in Caracas. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

Venezuelan intelligence agents detain critical journalist

Miami, March 12, 2019 — Venezuelan authorities should immediately release radio journalist Luis Carlos Díaz, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Supporters of the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido take part in a rally against Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 4, 2019. Venezuelan counterintelligence agents detained a U.S. freelancer and his Venezuelan fixer on March 6. (Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)

Venezuelan counterintelligence agents detain U.S. freelancer, Venezuelan fixer

Miami, March 6, 2019–Venezuelan authorities should immediately release a U.S. freelance journalist and a Venezuelan fixer who were detained after counterintelligence agents raided their homes this morning in Caracas, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Jorge Ramos, anchor of Spanish-language U.S. television network Univision, talks to the media as he prepares to leave the country at the Simon Bolivar international airport in Caracas, Venezuela, on February 26, 2019. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

Venezuelan authorities must return equipment to Jorge Ramos, Univision crew

Miami, February 26, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the detention yesterday of a Univision news team at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas and its expulsion today, and called on Venezuelan authorities to immediately return confiscated equipment.

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A crowd of opposition supporters gather to listen to Venezuela's National Assembly head, Juan Guaido, in Chacao, eastern Caracas, on January 25, 2019. (AFP/Federico Parra)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the political crisis in Venezuela

UPDATED: This safety advisory was updated on February 20, 2019. In response to disputed election results, Venezuelans from both sides have taken to the streets in recent weeks, according to news reports. The crisis began following the inauguration of President Nicolás Maduro to his second term on January 10, after an electoral process characterized by…

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Security forces look on during clashes at a rally in Venezuela on January 24. Amid the political crisis and widespread protests, Venezuelan authorities have raided news outlets, detained journalists and confiscated equipment. (Reuters/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez)

Raids, media shutdowns and internet disruptions amid Venezuela crisis

Miami, January 25, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Venezuelan authorities to stop blocking news outlets and to ensure that access to the internet is available amid the country’s political crisis and widespread protests.

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Venezuela's Maiquetia airport as seen on July 27, 2017. A Dutch freelance reporter was recently detained and interrogated there, and was sent back to the United States.

Venezuela denies entry to Danish freelance reporter

On January 9, 2019, Venezuelan security agents detained Danish freelance reporter Kristoffer Toft when he tried to enter the country on a tourist visa at Maiquetía airport in La Guaira, in northern Venezuela, the reporter told the Committee to Protect Journalists. Officials interrogated Toft and conducted a Google search of his name before denying him…

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View of a computer screen showing the Twitter account of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas. A proposed law in Venezuela would expand the powers of the government to control and monitor internet use without institutional checks. (Juan Barreto/AFP)

CPJ joins letter expressing concern about proposed cyberspace law in Venezuela

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined more than 30 regional and international rights organizations expressing concern about a proposed law in Venezuela that would expand the powers of the government to control and monitor internet use without institutional checks.

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The near deserted newsroom of Caracas daily El Nacional, pictured in October. Like many Venezuelan outlets, several of its journalists are in exile to escape legal action and the deepening economic crisis. (AFP/Federico Parra)

Lawsuits and economic crisis drive Venezuela’s journalists into exile

When Ewald Scharfenberg, the founding editor of the Venezuelan investigative news website Armando.Info, holds editorial meetings, he pulls out his mobile phone. That’s because most of his reporters are in Venezuela while Scharfenberg lives and works in neighboring Colombia.

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