Military detains 14 journalists at Venezuela’s National Assembly; one deported

Military officers detained 14 members of the news media at a National Assembly session in Caracas, Venezuela’s National Press Workers’ Union said, and all were released after their phones were searched; the union added that one reporter was deported. The union said most of those detained work for global news organizations and that at least one is employed by a Venezuelan television network.

It identified Daniel Álvarez, a journalist for Televen, and said he "lost custody of his phone" while officers left the room where he was held. A person with knowledge of the events told The New York Times that at least two detained — a photographer and a videographer — were working for The Associated Press.

The union said members of the media at the National Assembly were told not to record, take photos or livestream the session, and that military counterintelligence officers approached three journalists and removed them. Officials searched cellphones, the union said, demanding access codes to inspect photos, contacts, conversations, voice notes, Instagram accounts, emails and cloud-stored files.

The reporters were covering the first meeting of the legislature since a U.S. raid that, the union’s account notes, led to the ouster and removal of President Nicolás Maduro to the United States; legislators condemned the capture and demanded his return.

Key Topics

World, National Assembly, Venezuela, Press Workers' Union, Daniel Álvarez, Nicolás Maduro