Civic freedoms under threat amid disputed presidential elections

Introduction

Venezuela’s highly contested presidential election

The presidential election has left the country in political uncertainty, with allegations of irregularities and a contested result. On 28th July 2024, Venezuelans participated massively and peacefully in the presidential election, demonstrating an inspiring commitment to democratic principles. This occurred despite the electoral process being marred by human rights violations, including arrests of opposition members, arbitrary disqualifications of opposition candidates, arbitrary restrictions imposed on Venezuelans to vote abroad and on young people, and efforts to further restrict civic space.

On the following day, the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner with 51.20 per cent of the votes, but the opposition, led by Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado, disputed this outcome, citing evidence from tally sheets that reportedly gave González a significant lead. On 30th July 2024, The Carter Centre—one of the two international technical observation missions invited and accredited by the CNE itself— declared that “the 2024 presidential election in Venezuela did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic.” On 2nd August 2024, the opposition published its findings online, adding further weight to their claims of irregularities.

The election has drawn a mixed international response. Countries such as Bolivia, Cuba, China, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, Serbia and Syria recognised Maduro’s victory. In contrast, the results were rejected by the USA, Canada and at least nine Latin American countries (Argentina, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay). Brazil, Colombia and Mexico adopted a neutral stance, refraining from recognising Maduro’s victory or declaring the election fraudulent. Instead, they called for transparency, impartial verification and the release of detailed electoral results.

On 14th August 2024, the United Nations Panel of Experts on the presidential election released a preliminary report exposing significant restrictions on civil and political rights. The government’s dominance over state media and limited access for the opposition were key issues highlighted in the findings. While the voting process was noted to be peaceful and well-organised, the CNE failed to uphold essential standards of transparency and integrity. The report criticised the absence of detailed results to substantiate President Nicolás Maduro’s declared victory. Further eroding trust, the abrupt halt in the electronic transmission of results, officially attributed to a cyberattack, and the subsequent cancellation of critical audits raised serious concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.

On 22nd August 2024, the country’s Supreme Court (TSJ) of Justice ratified the election results. This action followed Maduro’s request on 31st July for the TSJ to certify the election results, despite the CNE being the constitutionally designated authority for electoral matters. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has consistently expressed concerns regarding the lack of judicial independence in Venezuela. It has highlighted the executive branch’s influence over the judiciary, warning that this undermines the separation of powers and the rule of law. The TSJ’s involvement in certifying the election results has further fuelled criticisms of an increasingly centralised and politicised judiciary.

In this context, civil society organisations have reported an unprecedented wave of violent repression (see below).

Association

Arbitrary detention of humanitarian worker

On 4th August 2024, state security officials arbitrarily detained humanitarian worker and professor Edni López at Simón Bolívar International Airport while she prepared to board a flight to Argentina. Authorities claimed her passport had expired but did not provide additional charges or explanations for her detention. Following this, López’s family lost contact with her, prompting widespread concern on social media. The hashtag #DóndeEstáEdni gained traction, drawing attention from human rights organisations such as Provea and Amnesty International.

López was held incommunicado for over 48 hours, with her family unaware of her whereabouts. She was eventually located in the custody of military intelligence police, detained without access to legal representation or communication with her family.

After five days of arbitrary detention, authorities released López on 9th August 2024 under precautionary measures, including mandatory monthly reporting and a travel ban.

Activists targeted with passport cancellations

As documented by Aula Abierta, an academic freedom organisation, authorities have escalated measures against activists and government critics by arbitrarily retaining and illegally cancelling passports:

• On 3rd August 2024, Yendri Velásquez, director of the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTQ+ Violence, was detained for six hours at Simón Bolívar International Airport while en route to Geneva for the 113th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination. Officials cancelled his passport, preventing his travel.
• On 5th August 2024, journalist Jefferson Díaz, residing in Ecuador, reported his passport being cancelled by authorities. Following this, ten other Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador, including his wife and activists, reported similar cancellations.
• On 6th August 2024, Romer Rubio, an academic and activist based in Chile, discovered his passport cancellation. He characterised the measure as an attempt to silence critics of the government.

Since July 2024, Venezuelan authorities have reportedly cancelled the passports of at least 40 activists and journalists without providing explanations. Rafael Uzcátegui, co-director of the human rights organisation Laboratorio de Paz, noted that the government views passport cancellation as an effective method to “neutralise and muffle critical voices with minimal effort.”

Politically motivated detentions

Venezuela’s ongoing political and social crisis has witnessed a surge in politically motivated detentions, especially during the 2024 presidential election period. Data from Foro Penal, a human rights organisation, revealed two distinct waves of detentions: 142 cases prior to the July elections and 1,848 post-election cases. Since 2014, the organisation has documented 17,940 politically motivated detentions, marking a persistent pattern of repression.

Post-election detentions exhibit systemic irregularities, including:

• Lack of due process: Authorities conducted arrests without warrants or evidence of criminal activity. Detainees were frequently denied legal representation, forced to accept public defenders and subjected to irregular or telematic hearings.
• Incommunicado detention: Families and lawyers often remained uninformed of detainees’ locations, compounding psychological distress.
• Torture and ill-treatment: Numerous detainees reported physical abuse and medical neglect. For example, Wilmer Guerrero, detained on 29th July 2024, experienced a seizure following a severe beating and was denied critical medical care despite his condition.

As of 30th September 2024, 162 adolescents aged 14 to 17 remain in detention. These adolescents face severe human rights violations, including:

• Torture and inhumane conditions: Detainees reported physical abuse, denial of healthcare and lack of access to necessary medications.
• Vicente (17), diagnosed with mild autism, was detained without a warrant, charged with terrorism and denied essential medication, exacerbating his condition.
• Ernesto (16), a high-performance athlete, was arbitrarily detained and placed in facilities with adult convicts, violating international standards for juvenile detention.

Even after release, adolescents have faced significant restrictions. For instance, Susana (15), detained while pregnant, was released following international outcry but remains under a travel ban and mandated court appearances, reflecting continued punitive measures.

Adoption of the “Anti-NGO Law”

On 15th August 2024, the National Assembly approved the Law for the Control, Regularisation, Performance and Financing of Non-Profit Social Organisations, referred to as the “anti-NGO law”. This legislation imposes severe restrictions on freedom of association, contravening international human rights standards.

Key provisions of the law include mandatory disclosure of funding sources, extensive reporting obligations requiring the submission of sensitive information and the prohibition of organisations accused of promoting “fascism, intolerance, and hatred.” The legislation further grants authorities broad discretionary powers to deregister, fine, or dissolve civil society organisations, undermining their operational independence. Additionally, annual reviews place undue strain on organisations with limited resources. The law’s sanctions range from fines to expulsion of foreign nationals.

While the government frames the law as enhancing transparency and accountability, only two of its 39 articles address these issues. Instead, the legislation imposes burdensome requirements, including mandatory reregistration within 180 days, which risks leaving CSOs in legal limbo.

“The anti-NGO law is designed to limit the independence of civil society, allowing only likeminded CSOs to operate. The government wants a civil society that’s aligned with its interests, tamed and silent”, said Alí Daniels, Co-Director of Acceso a la Justicia, an organisation dedicated to monitoring justice administration and the rule of law in Venezuela.

This law forms part of a larger strategy to suppress civil society and dissent, exacerbated by the concurrent progression of another legislative proposal, the “Law Against Fascism, Neo-Fascism, and Similar Expressions.”

Peaceful Assembly

Violent crackdown on post-election protests

The post-election protests have been met with a violent crackdown by authorities and pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos.” According to the Venezuela Fact-Finding Mission, during the nationwide protests on 29th and 30th July 2024, significant abuses were documented, including 25 killings from the use of lethal weapons by alleged security forces and armed civilians linked to those forces.

Since late July 2024, authorities have detained over 2,400 people, many without legal justification. Most of these detainees (1,600) face charges such as “terrorism” and “incitement to hatred.” Notably, these detentions largely occurred under “Operation Knock Knock” (Operación Tun Tun), during which security forces raided the homes of people who participated in the protests or expressed criticism of the government. This operation created a climate of widespread fear across the population.

As part of Operation Tun Tun, political party leaders and civil society members were harassed, threatened, or arrested. Some were forced into hiding or exile. However, most victims of repression were ordinary citizens with no clear political affiliation, who merely voiced opposition to the electoral results announced by the CNE. In some neighbourhoods, authorities reportedly marked the homes of perceived opponents with an “X,” further stoking fear and division.

On 31st July 2024, several civil society organisations, including CIVICUS, condemned the violent repression against protesters:

Expression

Press freedom under threat: a snapshot of repression

In recent months, a troubling pattern of press freedom violations highlights the systematic repression faced by journalists in Venezuela. These incidents underscore the growing risks to those reporting on critical issues, particularly during politically sensitive periods such as elections and protests. Some of these incidents are summarised below:

• On 28th July 2024, during the presidential election, authorities intimidated several journalists at voting centres, restricting their reporting activities and ordering them to leave. Notably, Luna Perdomo of Tal Cual was confronted by a National Armed Force (FAN) official in Caricuao, who demanded she exit the Tomás Vicente González voting centre. Similarly, Francesca Díaz from Correo del Caroní faced intimidation at a voting centre in Bolívar state, where an unidentified individual attempted to confiscate her accreditation. In Delta Amacuro state, individuals reportedly associated with the National Electric Corporation disrupted election coverage by cutting electricity to a building housing Radio Fe y Alegría, Ka Ina TV, and the newsroom of Tane Tanae.
• On 29th July, Bolivarian National Guard officers shot Jesús Romero, a reporter with independent media outlet Código Urbe, while he covered a demonstration in Maracay amid a nationwide crackdown on post-election protests (see peaceful assembly). Romero’s leg was struck by a bullet, injuring an artery, and he also sustained a buckshot wound to his abdomen.
• On 2nd August, agents of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) reportedly detained journalist and political activist Roland Carreño in Caracas. Since his detention, Carreño’s whereabouts have remained unknown, with authorities denying custody. Family members and legal representatives attempted to file habeas corpus petitions for enforced disappearance on 3rd and 4th August, but judicial and investigative authorities allegedly refused to process the filings. On 17th August, the IACHR granted precautionary measures to the journalist.
• On 8th August, President Nicolás Maduro ordered a 10-day block on access to the social network X, accusing its owner, Elon Musk, of promoting hatred and inciting unrest. Maduro criticised Musk for alleged election interference, while Musk accused Maduro of electoral fraud. Maduro justified the block as part of broader efforts to “regulate” social networks, alleging that X had been used by opponents to create anxiety and target government supporters. X has not commented on the restriction.
• On 20th August, alleged SEBIN officers arbitrarily detained journalist Ana Carolina Guaita, affiliated with the digital news platform La Patilla, near El Rincón in Maiquetía. Guaita is the daughter of political figures Carlos Guaita and Xiomara Barreto, linked to the Christian Democratic Party (Copei).
• On 25th August, authorities detained journalist Carmela Longo at her residence in Caracas following a police raid. During a virtual hearing on 26th August, officials charged her with terrorism and incitement to hatred. Subsequently, they released her under strict conditions, including a prohibition on leaving the country, a ban on discussing her case publicly and mandatory periodic reporting to authorities. The detention occurred shortly after Longo announced her dismissal from the pro-government newspaper Últimas Noticias, where she had worked for nearly two decades. Her teenage son was also briefly detained during the incident.
• On 15th September, journalist Jesús Medina Ezaine fled to Colombia, citing fears of judicial persecution. Medina had endured a six-year judicial process after being arrested in 2018 on charges including money laundering, incitement to hatred and criminal association. Though acquitted of all charges in June 2024, he alleges renewed efforts to overturn his acquittal. Accusations included attempts to erase court records and fabricate evidence of Medina’s absence from proceedings.
• On 22nd October 2024, a Venezuelan judge ordered photojournalist Deisy Peña and videographer Paúl León to stand trial following their detention during protests contesting the disputed electoral results of 28th July. Both journalists were performing their professional duties at the time of their detentions. Authorities charged Peña and León with serious offences, including terrorism and incitement to hatred and denied them access to private legal defence. Authorities detained Peña on 2nd August at a petrol station in Los Nuevos Teques, Miranda state, while she covered post-electoral demonstrations. Officials examined her mobile phone, found photographs of the protests, and subsequently charged her with terrorism, incitement to hatred, and obstruction of public roads. Peña remains incarcerated in a women’s prison in Ocumare del Tuy, awaiting trial. Similarly, police detained Paúl León, a cameraman for VPItv and a journalism student, on 30th July in Valera, Trujillo state, as he prepared to film a protest.
• On 27th October, independent journalist Nelin Escalante went missing after alleged detention by agents from Venezuela’s Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) in Caracas. Press freedom organisations, including the National Association of Journalists (CNP), reported his disappearance, stating that Escalante’s last contact with family occurred on the day of his detention. His disappearance follows social media posts discussing Venezuela’s economic conditions, including the rising dollar exchange rate.