The regime continues to overshadow the few remaining vestiges of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, and journalism is thus a high-risk profession. There is almost no independent print media, and radio and television are silenced under the repressive instrument of Conatel, the communications regulatory body.
Independent journalism is present on the Internet but is subject to a strict official blocking policy implemented by the regime through telephone companies and service providers. The blockade also extends to social networks.
The cases of assaulted journalists are countless. During the electoral period, the attacks perpetrated by police forces and para-police groups, instruments to keep a muzzle on critical voices in the face of claims of fraud and lack of transparency, as denounced to the government by the international community, increased. The regime is maintained thanks to the loyalty of the military high command and terror, the weapon it uses to paralyze the citizenry.
During the period before and after July 28, the number of political prisoners rose from 300 to 2,000, among them teenagers, demonstrators, and journalists. Fourteen reporters were arrested: Ana Carolina Guaita, La Patilla; Fernando Chuecos, photojournalist; Gilberto Reina, editor of the portal La Sapa del Orinoco; Roland Carreño, journalist and politician; José Camero, journalist and politician; Deisy Peña, photojournalist; Yousner Alvarado, photojournalist, and Paul León, cameraman of VPTv. During the campaign, Gabriel González, Luis López, Carlos Julio Rojas, and Ramón Centeno were arrested. Journalists Claudia Macero and Omar González remain asiled in the Embassy of Argentina, where the diplomatic headquarters are now under Brazilian custody
Persecution, siege, and prosecution of journalists have been constant in reports and denunciations made by the SNTP.
The National Assembly approved in the first discussion the bill against fascism, neo-fascism, and similar expressions. This initiative seeks to increase discretionary control over exercising freedom of expression, demonstration, and association and imposing prior censorship. The bill refers to radio and television service providers and electronic and printed media.
In August, 56 cases and 101 violations of the right to freedom of expression were documented for censorship, intimidation, and harassment during demonstrations.
The government continued with Internet blockades and restrictions. Nicolás Maduro requested on August 7 that citizens uninstall the WhatsApp application and block the X network for ten days. Through its Instagram account, the DGCIM promoted the arbitrary detention of citizens who disseminated information critical of the government in social networks and instant messaging applications, such as WhatsApp. Internet operators CANTV, Digitel, Inter, NetUno, and Supercable blocked access to Signal, Reddit, and Microsoft Teams.
Limitations to foreign press added to the transparency deficit. The Ministry of Information and Communication (Minci) established rules for correspondents that hindered their work during the elections and restricted the entry of transmission equipment.
IPYS Venezuela denounced that on July 18, tax officials of the Chacao Mayor's Office inspected the offices of CNN and the agencies AFP, AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg. The authorities closed the latter two. Conatel blocked the website of The Wall Street Journal for publishing a letter from opposition leader María Corina Machado.
In early August, many journalists were deported, among them Jorge Pizarro, from Radio Rivadavia, Argentina; Gloria Vanessa de la Torre Sanclemente and Andrea Carolina Trinidad Cabulla, Caracol Radio, Colombia; Marco Bariletti and Ivo Bonito, from RAI News Italy; Alvaro Nieto, director of the news portal The Objective; and five other journalists of different nationalities.
The regime continues to close radio stations. It imposes fines and sanctions for revoking concessions without guarantees of due process or the right to defense. Between April and September, it closed the following stations: Excelente 107.9 FM, in Upata, Bolivar; Radio Cristal 610 AM and Minuto 106.1 FM, in Lara; Minuto 103.9 FM, of Acarigua, Portuguesa; La Vernacula, 88.3FM, Guarico state; Radio Deportiva 98.3 FM, Guarico state; Playera 101.7 FM, in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, and Victoria 103.9 FM, Aragua state.
On July 4, the leading internet operators blocked the websites of Cazadores de Fake News and Es Paja Ve, two platforms dedicated to verifying information in public discourse. The domains of both platforms were blocked in CANTV, Movistar, and Digitel.
Other important events:
On July 29, journalist Jesús Romero of the digital media Código Urbe was shot and wounded while covering demonstrations in San Jacinto, Maracay, Aragua state.
At the end of July, the car of journalist Gabriel Rodríguez was burned by demonstrators in Barcelona, Anzoátegui state.
The security forces have taken over the facilities of El Nacional for the last three years. Diosdado Cabello continues attacking with strong disqualifications Miguel Henrique Otero, director of that media, who has been in exile for some time.
In August, the authorities raided the headquarters of the newspaper El Caroreño, Lara state. The street where the media outlet is located was closed by alleged members of the National Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Command (Conas) and the Military Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCIM).
On August 2, reporter Iván Núñez and cameraman José Luis Tapia of Televisión Nacional de Chile (TNC), were attacked by state security forces.
On October 3, the National Integrated Service for Customs and Tax Administration (Seniat) ordered the closure of the newspaper Diario La Voz, in Miranda state, for eight months, allegedly for not having the fiscal information updated, according to a denounced by the SNTP.
