During this period, the criminalization of news reporting, the closure of media outlets, and the judicial persecution of journalists created a scenario of systematic restrictions on freedom of expression. Thirty-eight serious incidents were recorded, including arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, physical attacks, media closures, and threats.
Arbitrary detention of journalists for covering demonstrations or reporting on sensitive issues has become a recurrent practice. In addition, the government misuses the judicial system to criminalize journalists and continues to use CONATEL to administratively close media outlets. Various arguments are also used to block news portals.
These measures have degenerated into the closure of radio stations such as Radio Mundial and Criolla FM and print media such as Diario La Voz, which continues to reduce information pluralism. The closure of media outlets aggravated the work situation of journalists, and several of them had to go into exile due to constant persecution.
The political context following the elections intensified the persecution of press workers, with a notable increase in the number of arrests for coverage of protests and public demonstrations.
On October 3, the Servicio Nacional Integrado de Administración Aduanera y Tributaria (SENIAT) ordered the closure of Diario La Voz until May 2025. A commission went to the sheds where the newspaper was printed and closed the facilities. Diario La Voz is one of the few remaining print media in the country and has circulated for 58 years in the 21 municipalities of the state of Miranda. At first, the SENIAT visited the offices, arguing that the tax billboard was not updated. The office closed it until October 7 but extended the measure for eight months. This action left 50 direct workers unemployed.
On October 9, it was 45 days since the presentation hearing of Ana Carolina Guaita, a journalist arrested on August 20 in La Guaira and accused of terrorism. She was still in prison without the Public Prosecutor's Office presenting a conclusive act, a situation that should have led to her release according to the law.
On October 22, the Public Prosecutor's Office ratified the indictment against photojournalist Deisy Peña. By the decision of Judge Carlos Liendo, she was put on trial, and the prison sentence against her was maintained. The preliminary hearing was held that day. Peña had been detained since August 2 in a women's prison in Ocumare del Tuy. The prosecution ratified the accusation for alleged crimes of terrorism, incitement to hatred, and obstruction of the public highway.
On October 23, VPI TV cameraman Paúl León was put on trial. At the preliminary hearing, the judge ratified the prison sentence against him. León was charged with terrorism and sent to Tocuyito prison. Photojournalist Deisy Peña and cameraman Paúl León were detained for more than 80 days for covering the post-election protests.
Between October 27 and 30, journalist Nelin Escalante was reported missing. The last time his family had contact with him was on October 25. Members of his work team reported an alleged arrest. The journalist suffers from hypertension and is being treated for gastritis and rhinitis, for which he requires regular medication. Moisés Gutiérrez, a lawyer with the Coalition for Human Rights, reported that 120 hours had passed since the journalist's disappearance.
On November 22, the director of the Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar hospital in Maturín, Monagas state, prohibited the entry of journalists and the media to the health center. The instruction was issued in an official communication dated November 13.
On November 28, Minister of Interior and Justice Diosdado Cabello accused independent media of receiving money from the U.S. Treasury Department. He mentioned El Nacional, El Pitazo, La Patilla, VPI TV, Crónica Uno and Efecto Cocuyo in this defamatory practice. Cabello alleged the existence of a group of journalists paid by the Treasury Department to cover leaders of the Unitary Platform without showing evidence to support his accusations. This intimidation is an attack against freedom of expression and access to information.
On December 9, the National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) ordered the closure and seizure of equipment of the radio station Más Network Coro 97.9 FM in Falcón state. According to the information available, the measure was effective as of December 7 and was due to legal reasons. Some journalists explained that CONATEL asked the radio station to update its concession, a permit that had already been processed without any response from the regulator.
On December 12, it was reported that three press workers were released from prison: Jesús Mata (announcer, Trujillo), Gilberto Reina (editor, Bolívar), and Deisy Peña (photojournalist, Miranda). However, 11 other professionals were still being arbitrarily detained.
The program "Profundidad de Campo," hosted by broadcaster Augusto Hernández on Rítmica 101.5 FM in Anzoátegui state, was taken off the air on December 13. Although he was informed that the measure was due to an alleged order from CONATEL, up to that moment, Hernández had not received any official explanation about the closure of the program he had hosted for over 19 years.
On December 24, journalist Ana Carolina Guaita of La Patilla was released from jail on December 21 after being detained since August 2 in a police station in Caraballeda, La Guaira. She was charged with terrorism, incitement to hatred, and obstruction of public roads. VPI TV cameraman Paúl León was also released on December 24. Likewise, photojournalist Yousner Alvarado, from Barinas, was released that week.
On December 30, the digital media Prodavinci announced a pause in its activities after 16 years due to a lack of resources to sustain its journalistic operations. In a press release, Prodavinci explained that they were exploring options to resume work.
On January 7, journalist Carlos Correa, human rights defender and director of Espacio Público was intercepted by black-clad and hooded officials in downtown Caracas, according to witnesses. After four hours of detention, his family denounced that they did not know his whereabouts. Five former UN and OAS freedom of expression rapporteurs condemned the disappearance of the activist and human rights defender and demanded his release, which finally occurred on January 16.
On January 9, there were multiple aggressions against journalists during the coverage of demonstrations.
Journalist Leandro Palmar, a reporter for LUZ Radio, was arrested on January 9 by the National Guard during a demonstration in the Plaza de la República, Maracaibo. His relatives learned of his detention the following day and confirmed that he was in Detachment 111.
On January 24, CONATEL ordered the closure of the radio station Criolla 100.7 FM in Ciudad Bolivar. The director of the radio station, Luis Bello, reported that the measure included taking the signal off the air and confiscating the transmitter, the console, a computer, and a CPU owned by the radio station. The officials alleged that Criolla 100.7 FM was not authorized and that the radio station was clandestine, although the director assured that he had applied for authorization before CONATEL without obtaining a response.
On January 27, the governor of Trujillo, Gerardo Márquez, threatened to imprison those who wrote hate messages on social networks. Márquez instructed his supporters to send him screenshots of people accused of committing this type of action to apply the so-called "operation tun tun."
Nicolás Maduro lashed out against the EFE News Agency, accusing it of having "a dirty little campaign" against the country. In a televised meeting, he described the journalists of the Spanish agency as "media hit men."
On February 6, journalist José Gregorio Camero, who had been arbitrarily detained for six months, was taken to the hospital in Valle de la Pascua, Guárico state, decompensated and bleeding from the nose. His sister, Elys Camero, asked the authorities to release him so that he could receive proper medical attention.
On February 21, La Patilla journalist Rory Branker was allegedly detained by SEBIN officials. After 24 hours, his family did not know his whereabouts. The media outlet reported that he was taken to the SEBIN headquarters in El Helicoide and that two laptops were confiscated from his residence.
The radio stations Victoria 100.9 FM and Stilos 93.1 FM, of Biscucuy, Sucre municipality, Portuguesa state, ceased operations on February 21 by orders of CONATEL. A commission visited the radio stations, ordered their closure, and confiscated the equipment of both media outlets without informing them of the reasons. Stilos had been operating for 15 years.
On February 26, Eleangel Navas was arrested in El Tigre, Anzoátegui state, on August 3, 2024. The community manager of the digital media Diario Oriental had been detained by officers of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB). Navas was charged with terrorism and incitement to hatred.
On March 4, journalist Román Camacho was arrested and taken to CICPC headquarters in El Hatillo. The arrest was allegedly related to his coverage of a murder. In addition to being a crime reporter for Contrapunto, Camacho is a Press Workers Union volunteer delegate. Days later, he was released, and although the investigation continues, he is prohibited from testifying about his case or leaving the country.
On March 18, the Bolivarian National Police raided the residence of journalist Charito Rojas in Valencia, Carabobo state. She has been persecuted for political reasons and because of her opinions. She lives in forced exile.
On March 22, the web page of the Spanish news agency EFE was blocked by at least eight internet providers in Venezuela. In those days, high government officials disqualified several international news agencies.
After journalist Katihuska Francis published alleged irregularities in the Health Foundation (Funsalud), the prefect of the Alfredo Arvelo parish in Barinas stigmatized her through social media. Francis, who works for Diario La Noticia and other private media in Barinas, was also accused of "palangrista" on the portal Noti21.
On March 24, journalist Gustavo Azócar Alcalá reported the existence of an arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes of aggravated extortion, promotion or incitement to hatred, improper disclosure of personal information, and aggravated association.
On March 31, Radio Mundial 860 AM in San Cristóbal, Táchira state, was taken off the air by instructions of CONATEL. It was one of the few moderate-amplitude radio stations in the state and had been broadcasting for 70 years. CONATEL declared the termination of the concession.
Previously, the National Union of Press Workers had documented consecutive attacks against the station, including an attempted break-in by unknown armed men who threatened the staff, as well as damage to the transmission tower.
