Venezuela’s Post-Election Crackdown: 221 Politicians, 23 Journalists & 6 Human Rights Activists Detained

January 13, 2025 – Venezuela – 

Since Venezuela’s contentious July 28, 2024, presidential election, the country has been engulfed in a severe human rights crisis. As of January 11, 2025, the Foro Penal human rights network reported 221 individuals—181 more than in late December—have been detained for political reasons. This crackdown has swept up opposition figures, journalists, and human rights defenders alike.

Foro Penal’s tally reveals nearly 1,700 people currently imprisoned, with 1,503 detained in connection with post-electoral protests alone, and over 900 arrested immediately after the election. Detainees include 221 politicians, 23 journalists, and six human rights activists, many arrested without warrants and taken from homes, streets, or workplaces.

December brought some temporary relief, with about 100 detainees—including minors—released before Christmas. However, the continuing wave of arbitrary arrests has negated much of this goodwill.

This mass targeting fits within “Operation Tun Tun,” a door-to-door campaign designed to root out opposition elements, including poll-watchers, activists, and journalists, under sweeping charges like terrorism. The government has also revoked passports of many activists and media workers, restricted internet access—especially independent outlets—and blocked encrypted communications, exacerbating a widespread climate of fear.

International watchdogs, including the UN, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, have denounced the crackdown. UN human rights officials have partially reactivated a shuttered office in Caracas to monitor the escalating abuses, citing “disproportionate use of force,” enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. Reporters Without Borders noted that Venezuela now has the highest number of political prisoners in Latin America, with many well-educated youths among them.

Reference –

221 Politicians, 23 Journalists, and Six Human Rights Activists Detained Since the Presidential Elections