The last two journalists still detained in Venezuela were released this Thursday, one week after the promulgation of the amnesty lawreported the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP).
Jonathan Carrillo, imprisoned since July 2022, was released with precautionary measures, while Pedro Urribarri, detained since May 2025, has full freedom, the general secretary of the SNTP, Marco Ruiz, told Efe.
“There are no longer any journalists or press workers who are detained,” said the activist.
In this first week of the amnesty, three journalists were released, two with full freedom, including Marifel Guzmán, who was detained from February 2025 until Tuesday, according to the union.
Last month, the SNTP counted a total of 25 journalists, communicators and press workers “illegally and arbitrarily detained.”
Released journalists still waiting for amnesty to close their cases
On January 8, the authorities announced the release of a “significant number” of people, a process that has advanced slowly and to which was added the approval of an amnesty law proposed by the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who took office after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
Ruiz pointed out that although these journalists “are all outside, there is still no certainty” of who will benefit from the amnesty to close the cases still open and obtain full freedom.
On Tuesday, the union met with the parliamentary commission in charge of compliance with the amnesty to request the review of the cases of 40 journalists and press workers and urge that the courts “do their duty and guarantee the restitution of the violated rights” of these professionals.
According to the SNTPa communication channel was established to monitor the cases and attend to “any eventuality that may arise during the amnesty process and the dismissal of all cases.”
They demand to lift the digital blockade on the media and stop the persecution
A total of 217 people were released from prison during the first week of the amnesty law, reported this Thursday by Chavista deputy Jorge Arreaza, who chairs the commission in charge of compliance with the law.
This Wednesday, the Alliance for Freedom of Expression (Aplex), of which the SNTP is a part, demanded that the digital blockade of the media be lifted and the persecution ceased, among other actions to “restore free expression and communication” in the country.
