At least 14 members of the press were detained in Venezuela on Monday as they were covering the aftermath of the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces. The union representing media workers in Venezuela said all but one of those detained were employed by foreign news organisations and were released later on Monday, with one reporter deported.
Foreign media have long faced restrictions in Venezuela, with very few being granted visas to work in the country. Their detention came as Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the interim president and shortly after she expressed willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration, which has indicated intentions to 'run' Venezuela.
The media workers were detained by Venezuelan security forces at the National Assembly and in the neighborhood of Altamira, all in Caracas. At least two of them were seized by agents working for Venezuela's military counterintelligence agency, while others were detained by Venezuela's intelligence service. Their equipment was searched, their phones checked, and their social media posts read.
The union called the incidents 'alarming' and demanded the release of 23 media workers who remain in detention in the country. Reports indicate that a Colombian and a Spanish reporter were also detained near the Colombian border, held incommunicado for hours before being released.
The repression extends beyond media workers, as reports indicate armed police patrol the streets, instilling fear among citizens. Many Venezuelans are afraid to speak out, with government intolerance evident in the military presence and armed civilian groups supporting the Maduro administration.
These detentions come at a volatile time in Venezuela, with political unrest simmering since the controversial 2024 presidential election, raising concerns about the government's repression of dissent and media freedoms. According to pressure group Foro Penal, there are currently over 800 political prisoners in Venezuela.
Foreign media have long faced restrictions in Venezuela, with very few being granted visas to work in the country. Their detention came as Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the interim president and shortly after she expressed willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration, which has indicated intentions to 'run' Venezuela.
The media workers were detained by Venezuelan security forces at the National Assembly and in the neighborhood of Altamira, all in Caracas. At least two of them were seized by agents working for Venezuela's military counterintelligence agency, while others were detained by Venezuela's intelligence service. Their equipment was searched, their phones checked, and their social media posts read.
The union called the incidents 'alarming' and demanded the release of 23 media workers who remain in detention in the country. Reports indicate that a Colombian and a Spanish reporter were also detained near the Colombian border, held incommunicado for hours before being released.
The repression extends beyond media workers, as reports indicate armed police patrol the streets, instilling fear among citizens. Many Venezuelans are afraid to speak out, with government intolerance evident in the military presence and armed civilian groups supporting the Maduro administration.
These detentions come at a volatile time in Venezuela, with political unrest simmering since the controversial 2024 presidential election, raising concerns about the government's repression of dissent and media freedoms. According to pressure group Foro Penal, there are currently over 800 political prisoners in Venezuela.
