Who are the eight journalists wrongfully detained in Venezuela?
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Venezuelan government’s crackdown on the media since the start of the campaign for the disputed presidential election held in July, in which at least nine journalists have been arrested in various parts of the country in connection with their reporting, and eight are still held on trumped-up charges and in worrying conditions.
The eight journalists facing between 12 and 20 years in prison on charges of “terrorism,” “inciting hatred“ and “criminal association” are Luis López, Yuosnel Alvarado, Paúl León, Deysi Peña, José Gregorio Camero, Eleángel Navas, Gilberto Reina and Ana Carolina Guaita.
“We strongly condemn the arrests of these journalists and demand their release. Their detention for doing their job sends a chilling message to all those who defend the right to information in the current serious political crisis in Venezuela. By repeatedly and routinely charging media professionals with terrorism or inciting hatred, President Nicolás Maduro’s government shows that it is seeking to censor the media in complete violation of fundamental democratic principles.
The detained journalists cannot choose who defends them. They have to accept court-appointed lawyers. It is still not known where some are being held. The families and colleagues of two of the journalists, Paúl León and Eleángel Navas, think they have been transferred to high-security prisons, but they have not been given any confirmation of this. The fate of three of the journalists is particularly worrying because they have serious health problems. Luis López suffers from hypertension, Gilberto Reina has heart problems, and José Gregorio Cameras has acute coronary syndrome and an occlusive coronary lesion.
The eight detained journalists
Luis López, aged more than 60, has been a journalist for 27 years, working for Radio Caracas and the newspaper La Verdad in La Guaira, a coastal city north of the capital, Caracas. He specialises in politics and the defence of community rights. His location was unknown for more than 24 hours after his arrest on 14 June while on his way to cover a story. He is currently held at El Helicoide prison in Caracas on charges of "inciting hatred" and "criminal association."
Yuosnel Alvarado, 23, is a photo-journalist for Noticias Digital, covering community news and political issues. He was arrested by members of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) while filming members of the public doing a “cacerolazo” – banging on pots and pans – to protest the results of the presidential election. He was detained at Comando 331 of the GNB in the western state of Barinas on charges of “terrorism” and “inciting hatred” and then transferred to Aragua state.
Paúl León, 26, has been a VPI TV cameraman since March 2024, after working for various sports media. He was arrested along with several protesters by members of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) during the protests on 30 July in Valera, in the northwestern state of Trujillo. Initially detained at the PNB’s Criminal Investigation Division in Carvajal, in Trujillo state, he was reportedly transferred to an undisclosed location on 25 August. He is charged with “terrorism” and “inciting hatred.”
Deysi Peña has been a photo-journalist for 20 years. A police patrol arrested her on 2 August for photographing the protests held on 30 July. She is being held at Ocumare del Tuy women's prison, south of Caracas. Accused of “terrorism,” “inciting hatred,” “resisting authority” and “vandalism and damage to public and private property,” she is currently being held for a minimum period of 45 days pending further investigation.
José Gregorio Camero, who produces and hosts a radio news show on Talento 102.7 FM in Valle de la Pascua, Guárico state, was arrested on 3 August by purported members of the General Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCIM) wearing balaclavas. A special court with jurisdiction over terrorism cases ordered him held for a minimum of 45 days pending further investigation.
Eleángel Navas, 25, is a photographer and community manager at the newspaper El Oriental. Police went to his home on 3 August to arrest him on charges of “terrorism” and “inciting hatred” and, as was not there, they detained his mother and five-year-old niece and forced his mother to call him to arrange a meeting in a public place, where the police arrested him. He is being held for 45 days pending further investigation. On 26 August, he was reportedly transferred to Yare prison in San Francisco de Yare, in Miranda state, but his family not yet been able to contact him there.
Gilberto Reina, 52, covers local and political news for the digital media La Sapa del Orinoco in the eastern city of Ciudad Bolívar. He was arrested at his home by the DGCIM counter-intelligence agency and is being held on charges of “terrorism” and “inciting hatred.”
Ana Carolina Guaita, 32, covers various subjects for the online media La Patilla after previously reporting for Globovision. She was arrested without a warrant by purported members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Agency on 20 August, as she left her home in Maiquetía, north of Caracas. She is reportedly being held at the Security Directorate of the governor's office in the northern city La Guaira, although her place of detention has not been officially confirmed. The charges against her are still unknown. She is the daughter of two opposition politicians. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has asked the Venezuelan state to protect her rights to life and physical safety.
