The Venezuelan government has revoked the passports of dozens of journalists and human rights activists following President Nicolás Maduro's disputed re-election, according to a report by the Financial Times. This action is seen as part of an escalating effort to suppress opposition against Maduro's administration.
The Caracas-based rights group Laboratorio de Paz revealed that at least 40 individuals, predominantly journalists and activists, had their passports annulled without any explanation. The group also believes the true number could be much higher, as many citizens fear reporting such cases due to potential reprisals.
According to the Financial Times, many of those affected had their passports confiscated while attempting to board flights at Venezuela's main airport. Rights groups argue that by invalidating passports, the government has found a low-cost way to silence dissenting voices without the political fallout that more aggressive measures, such as imprisonment or torture, might generate.
Rafael Uzcátegui, co-director of Laboratorio de Paz, commented that this method has proven effective in neutralizing critical voices with minimal effort, as it restricts the mobility of activists and prevents them from seeking international attention.
Maduro's victory in the contested July elections was endorsed by Venezuelan electoral and judicial authorities, but the opposition has firmly rejected the results, claiming the election was neither free nor fair.
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