Venezuela detains journalists amid crackdown following leadership upheaval

Venezuela’s security forces detained at least 14 journalists and media workers in Caracas, according to documentation cited by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The detentions occurred as reporters attempted to cover a high-profile political event involving the country’s leadership. CPJ and local press unions said most of those detained were released without being formally brought before judicial authorities, while one journalist was deported. The incident added to concerns that authorities are using short-term detention, monitoring, and other forms of pressure to restrict independent reporting. The crackdown comes against a backdrop of heightened political tension and uncertainty, which has often coincided with tighter controls on media access and increased risks for both domestic and international journalists. Press advocates are urging Venezuelan authorities to stop targeting reporters and to allow coverage without intimidation or retaliation, warning that suppressing journalism during a crisis increases the likelihood of abuses going unreported and misinformation spreading.

06.01.2026

https://cpj.org/2026/01/at-least-14-journalists-detained-during-presidential-inauguration-in-venezuela/