Venezuela has seen a sharp rise in journalist repression following the disputed July 28 reelection of President Nicolás Maduro amid fraud allegations, according to a new report published by the Committee to Protect Journalists with seven other press freedom groups.
The report details a heightened environment of fear, stigmatization, and criminalization of independent voices, creating “news deserts” where millions of Venezuelans lack access to reliable local news. From July 1 to August 28, 2024, six journalists have been detained, with four facing charges of terrorism and incitement to hatred under the 2017 Law Against Hate.
The report calls on the Venezuelan government to release detained journalists, restore press freedom, and allow media professionals to work freely, amid accounts of direct threats to journalists’ families, social media harassment, and passports cancellations to silence dissent and tighten government control over the press.
Read the full report here.