Country
Venezuela
Government actions against journalists in Venezuela
RSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180. World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF); rank 1 is the freest.
The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.
Venezuela is in South America, South America. The record holds 3 incidents in which the government of Venezuela, or an official, court or legislature there, limited journalists' ability to report.
Tactics used
- Expulsion and visa denial: 2 incidents · ladder
- Detention and violence: 1 incident · ladder
- Licensing and closure of outlets: 1 incident · ladder
- Shutdowns and blocking: 1 incident · ladder
Heads of government at the time
Incidents by year
2024
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Stage | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2024 | Venezuela detains, expels and restricts journalists after disputed 2024 election | Detention and violence | Punish | Nicolas Maduro | Sustained |
2017
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Stage | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2017 | Venezuela expels or denies entry to dozens of foreign journalists covering anti-government protests | Expulsion and visa denial | Punish | Nicolas Maduro | Ongoing (25 January 2018) |
2007
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Stage | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2007 | Venezuela: the government declines to renew RCTV's broadcast concession | Licensing and closure of outlets | Silence | Hugo Chavez | Sustained (8 September 2015) |
Ladders: where each tactic has led · Timeline for Venezuela · South America