Journalists remain cautiously optimistic that this process may achieve these objectives. The working group differs from previous dialogue and negotiation initiatives and is guided by pre-established guidelines. Its supervised nature and the formal parity between the delegations have raised expectations of concrete results, although caution persists given the continued existence of the repressive legal framework and intelligence agencies.
Any partial progress—such as selective unblocking, short-term detentions, or statements signaling openness—will remain fragile unless it results in binding legal reforms, the full restoration of property and frequencies, and the effective dismantling of harassment practices.
Two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Venezuela on June 24, leaving approximately 6,500 people dead and more than 1,500 missing, according to information available at the end of September. Following the earthquakes, the government implemented a centralized system of control and restrictions that further aggravated limitations on freedom of expression and press freedom. Espacio Público documented dozens of violations of freedom of expression in the weeks that followed, including cases of harassment against media workers and restrictions on access to official information.
According to the National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela (SNTP), twelve journalists died as a result of the earthquakes: Adriany Matute, Carmen Helena Valdivieso, Emilys Sarache, Ernesto García, Javier José Rodríguez, José Ángel Rivero, Joselyn Ceballos, Lissi Contreras, Mauren Morillo, Melissa Sosa Visconti, Oriana Guedez, and Sinaí Rivas.
Chronology of Other Relevant Developments
On April 20, the 49th Terrorism Court ordered the dismissal of the case against journalist Omario Castellanos, who had been charged with alleged terrorism, criminal association, conspiracy, treason, and incitement to hatred. Castellanos had been detained since May 2025 and was released in January 2026.
On April 24, reporter Deysi Peña was fully released. The Second Trial Court with jurisdiction over terrorism cases dismissed the charges against her under the Amnesty Law. Peña had been detained for four months and subjected to judicial proceedings since August 2024.
On April 30, radio station Fiesta 105.9 FM in Araure stopped broadcasting after a change in ownership that involved the sale of the property and transmission equipment. The measure was implemented immediately and affected 22 employees, including announcers, journalists, and administrative staff.
On May 1, an unidentified individual, whom members of the community believed to be linked to intelligence agencies, photographed and recorded press workers and speakers at the May Day gathering in San Juan de los Morros, Guárico. When confronted, he initially identified himself as a journalist and later denied working for any media outlet.
On May 6, the Instagram account of digital outlet Armando.info was suspended following an alleged “avalanche of coordinated messages” seeking to censor the findings of an investigation into Venezuelan businesspeople and the purchase of Bangente. The account was suspended for an alleged copyright violation for 12 days.
On May 11, Info5ve, based in Nueva Esparta, reported that its identity had been impersonated through a fake Instagram account that copied and reproduced its content and directed followers to a website of unknown origin. The outlet said that the website published information and comments that did not correspond to the testimony and data collected by Info5ve.
On May 18, Venezuela News, a media outlet linked to pro-government propaganda, ceased operations, and more than 100 workers were reportedly notified of their dismissal.
That same day, a police officer attempted to seize the camera of freelance photojournalist Rafael Hernández during a demonstration. During the struggle, the officer took his microphone, which was later returned after the journalist protested.
On May 19, plainclothes police officers photographed press equipment belonging to at least two media outlets in Apure state while they were covering a 24-hour national strike called by university authorities.
On May 25, El Pitazo TV’s Instagram account was suspended following reports of alleged copyright violations. Meta subsequently restored the account, acknowledging that no violation of the platform’s rules had occurred.
On May 27, officers of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) threatened a news crew in Maturín, Monagas state, and forced them to delete journalistic material recorded outside the Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar University Hospital. An officer approached journalist Ninoska Cova and, under threat, ordered her to delete the material and warned her that she knew where she lived.
That same day, security personnel for Miranda Governor Elio Serrano prevented journalist Reneé Herrera of La Revista del Tuy from interviewing the governor during an official event at Simón Bolívar General Hospital in the Valles del Tuy. The officials attempted to seize his phone and pushed him to prevent him from approaching the governor.
On June 1, journalist Pablo José Mujica Rodríguez of Noticias La Voz de Valera was intercepted by armed men, detained, and taken to a police facility in La Beatriz, Valera, Trujillo state. He was detained for approximately three hours and questioned about a report on gasoline shortages. Officials warned him about the governor’s displeasure and ordered him not to report on the issue again. That same night, they contacted him again and forced him to publish a report reflecting the official narrative.
On June 3, journalist Maryorin Méndez was detained by SEBIN while covering protests by relatives of political prisoners near El Helicoide. Photojournalists Miguel Gutiérrez and Leonardo Fernández were also detained and were subsequently released.
On June 5, leaders of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) in the Barranquitas sector of La Villa del Rosario de Perijá, Zulia state, shoved and insulted journalist Jelicex Garay of Rosario 95.9 FM during a visit by Governor Luis Caldera.
On June 11, journalist José Mireles was assaulted while covering an electoral campaign event of the Federation of University Centers of the Central University of Venezuela (FCU-UCV), headed by Rosa Cucunuba. A supporter of the opposing slate seized his phone.
On June 27, the SNTP demanded that press freedom be included on the agenda of negotiations between the government and the opposition. The organization had documented 37 incidents involving journalists and media outlets during 2026.
That same day, security personnel at J. M. de los Ríos Hospital prevented journalist Reinaldo Mozo of Efecto Cocuyo from reporting. He was recording from outside the health center as aid and donations arrived. A security guard covered his phone and forced him to stop recording.
On June 29, the Ministry of Communication suspended access for international correspondents to La Guaira for 48 hours. According to the ministry, the measure was taken for “health reasons and to reduce noise during rescue operations.”
On the same date, journalist Diana Vásquez of Noticiero Venevisión was harassed by security personnel at Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas.
Also on June 29, the reporting team of El Noticiero, headed by Daniel Álvarez, was intimidated while covering events in Pinto Salinas, Caracas, one of the communities affected by the earthquakes. Residents identified individuals linked to the office of Caracas Government Chief Daniel Aponte as responsible for photographing the vehicle, license plate, and members of the reporting team.
On the same date, the Communications Directorate of the Autonomous Regional Airports Service (SAAR) of Bolívar prevented journalists Francesca Díaz of Radio Fe y Alegría and independent journalist Rafael Ramírez from entering Manuel Carlos Piar Airport in Puerto Ordaz, where they had gone to cover incidents caused by lightning striking the taxiway.
Also on June 29, journalist Luis Hugas was released after spending several hours at the Polichacao police station. He had been stopped by military personnel while operating a drone near the Obelisco building in Altamira. The military officers attempted to seize his equipment even though he had authorization to conduct the flight. While he was being taken to the police station, the officers entered his vehicle and took some of his equipment, which was returned hours later.
On June 30, the Regional Information Office (OIR) of the Sucre State Government issued a statement urging journalists, correspondents, media outlets, and digital platforms not to disseminate independent information about the June 24 earthquakes.
On July 6, reporters Reinaldo Mozo, Roison Figuera, Maryorin Méndez, and Juan Barreto were harassed while covering search-and-rescue operations at the Tahití building in Caraballeda.
On July 15, journalist Yandris Saldivia of Crónica Uno was detained for two hours by Corpocapital employees while gathering testimonies about an elevator problem in the Parque Central towers in Caracas.
That same day, Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace Diosdado Cabello discredited and stigmatized national and international journalists and media outlets for their coverage of the June 24 earthquake emergency. He described the work of national and international media as a “miserable and sick media war.”
On July 16, Monagas Governor Ernesto Luna attempted to impose restrictions on coverage of people affected by the earthquakes who had been transferred to the state. During a meeting with media directors and correspondents, Luna and psychologist Trino Gascón asked journalists not to interview survivors from La Guaira for a period ranging from 15 days to three months, citing the need to protect their mental health.
On July 28, the SNTP set up a connectivity station in La Guaira, with satellite internet, equipment charging, and logistical support for journalists covering the emergency caused by the earthquakes.
On July 30, the Caracas section of the National College of Journalists (CNP) denounced a “new attack” by Cabello against journalist and human rights activist Carlos Julio Rojas.
That same day, officers of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) attempted to prevent coverage of the demolition of the Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi housing development in Catia La Mar. Journalists from at least three media outlets were forced to leave the area despite being outside the security perimeter.
Also on July 30, Polimonagas officers photographed and recorded seven journalists covering a protest near Corpoelec in Maturín.
On August 6, the SNTP proposed ten conditions for an effective democratic transition, including freedom for those persecuted for expressing themselves; an end to surveillance and retaliation; the unblocking of media outlets and digital platforms; transparency and access to public information; equal access to communication spaces; recovery of the media ecosystem; reform of restrictive laws and institutions; transformation of state media into a pluralistic public service; and effective protection for journalists and press workers.
That same day, unidentified officials approached journalist Deisy Martínez of Efecto Cocuyo as she was leaving La Carlota, where she had attempted to cover the first dialogue meeting between representatives of the National Assembly elected in 2015 and the interim government.
On August 13, a GNB officer photographed and recorded journalists María Fernanda Bolívar of Enelmapa360, Cristian Hernández of Reporte Ciudadano, and Marky Briceño of VPITV after they covered a protest over power outages in Barcelona, Anzoátegui state.
On August 15, El Nacional’s Instagram account remained suspended following reports of alleged copyright violations. The case is part of a pattern of attacks against Venezuelan media outlets documented during the previous six months.
On August 27, Jesús León, PSUV political secretary and representative of the Ministry of Habitat and Housing in Falcón, attacked La Mañana and accused it of sensationalism in a video posted on the party’s Instagram account. The official challenged a headline about families affected by the earthquakes who remained in tents two months after the disaster, without disputing the facts reported by the outlet.
In September, criminal proceedings against journalist Luis López, who was detained for 19 months and released on January 14, 2026, remained open before the Third Terrorism Court, despite his having filed a request for dismissal under the Amnesty Law.
On September 1, media outlets and organizations signed a manifesto proposing measures to dismantle censorship, including the full release of journalists facing judicial proceedings, access to public information sources, lifting website blocks, repealing the Law Against Hate and other regulations, and restructuring Conatel.
On September 2, GNB officers and security personnel at the Palace of Justice photographed journalists and cameramen from at least five media outlets who were waiting for statements from the Lawyers’ Front in central Caracas.
On September 7, the Caracas CNP demanded the full release of journalists Carlos Rojas and Luis López, as well as media workers Rory Branker, Gabriel González, and Jonathan Carrillo.
On September 16, the government began lifting access restrictions affecting several news websites. According to checks conducted by VE sin Filtro, at least ten media websites became accessible again through different internet service providers. They included Alberto News, Caraota Digital, Crónica Uno, EFE, Efecto Cocuyo, El Estímulo, El Pitazo, Monitoreamos, Runrunes, and Revista Semana.
On September 17, Sofía Macher, chair of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, warned that the unblocking of some media outlets did not mean that all restrictions affecting the press had been lifted.
That same day, the case against journalist and human rights defender Carlos Correa, director of Espacio Público, was dismissed. The decision, issued by the Fourth Terrorism Court, brought to an end the proceedings against him on charges of terrorist financing, association, money laundering, conspiracy with a foreign government, and treason.
On September 21, an updated assessment showed that digital censorship continued to affect 73 news websites, as well as anti-censorship and anonymity platforms (31), commerce (25), politics (19), human rights and NGOs (10), social media and multimedia (5), and the economy (4).
That same day, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an end to restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information following the recent unblocking of several websites in the country.
On September 22, 31 media outlets remained blocked. The SNTP demanded that the restoration of access to news websites announced days earlier by Conatel extend to all media outlets, across all internet service providers, and on a permanent basis.
