VENEZUELA · PRESS FREEDOM

A manifesto on Venezuela press freedom, signed on 4 September, says six journalists and press workers are still facing charges. None is in prison, and none has been tried.

Caracas. The union says none of the six is in prison, but all remain before the courts.

The union’s manifesto

On September 4, 2026, the SNTP issued a manifesto demanding full freedom for six journalists and media workers. The appeal is called the Manifiesto por la restitucion de la libertad de expresion.

It was signed by 38 outlets, 63 organisations and 164 individuals.

The union also highlighted that Carlos Correa, one of the six, has faced proceedings for 604 days. The manifesto states, ‘La libertad tiene que ser plena’ (Freedom must be complete), as reported by El Nacional on September 6.

Who the six are

The six named by the union are Jonathan Carrillo, Carlos Julio Rojas, Luis López, Gabriel González, Carlos Correa, and Rory Branker. These names appear in reports from Deutsche Welle and El Nacional.

Each has a different case, but all share a common thread: they were arrested, later released, but still face criminal charges. Their freedom is limited by court orders.

Not all six are journalists. Correa runs an NGO, Rojas is a community activist and Carrillo is a student.

All six are imputados – charged, not tried and not convicted. None is in prison; all are under presentation regimes and travel bans.

The charges they face

The charges vary. Luis López, a journalist with La Verdad de Vargas, is accused of incitement to hatred, criminal association, and financing terrorism.

He was arrested in June 2024 while covering an opposition event.

Gabriel González, linked to the opposition group Vente Venezuela, faces similar charges of incitement and criminal association. Rory Branker, an editor at La Patilla, is accused of treason, terrorism, and conspiracy.

Carlos Julio Rojas, a community activist, is accused of attempted assassination of a head of state and terrorism. Jonathan Carrillo, a student, faces charges of illegal migration and usurpation of functions.

Correa is under court supervision. Reports do not set out the specific charges against him.

The legal framework

Most charges are brought under Venezuela’s anti-terrorism, national security, and hate speech laws. These include the Constitutional Law against Hatred, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance, and statutes against organized crime.

The exact article numbers are not confirmed in the press reports. The SNTP and other sources describe the laws in general terms only.

Who governs Venezuela now

Nicolas Maduro was captured on 3 January 2026. Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as acting president two days later and remains in office.

She signed the amnesty law on 19 February 2026. Some 379 people were released on 21 February and the process concluded on 24 April.

Detained vs. prosecuted

It is important to distinguish between journalists who are in prison and those who are prosecuted but free. The six highlighted by the SNTP are not currently in jail.

They have been released under precautionary measures, such as regular court appearances and travel bans. The SNTP says they are still ‘judicializados,’ meaning they face ongoing legal processes that restrict their freedom.

Who was released and when

Luis Lopez was released on 14 January 2026, Rory Branker on 4 February and Jonathan Carrillo on 26 February.

A court refused on 14 January 2026 to dismiss the case against Carlos Julio Rojas. Gabriel Gonzalez was denied amnesty.

The broader picture

An SNTP explainer counting 20 people deprived of liberty and 12 under judicial process was last updated in July 2025. That was before the amnesty law, so it does not describe the position today.

In January 2026, the SNTP listed six journalists as detained, including Rory Branker and Jonathan Carrillo. By February, some had been released, but their cases remained open.

Recent releases and amnesty law

Some journalists have seen their cases dismissed under Venezuela‘s Amnesty Law. For example, journalist Deysi Peña received a dismissal in April 2026, according to the SNTP.

However, the SNTP says many cases remain unresolved. In March 2026, it reported that 20 journalists still lack full freedom because courts have not applied the amnesty law.

Carlos Correa’s special role

Carlos Correa directs the press freedom group Espacio Publico. He is a candidate for Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Correa was detained from 7 to 16 January 2025 and then released. The SNTP and Espacio Publico describe that detention as an enforced disappearance; Runrun.es reported it.

Who the SNTP is

The SNTP is Venezuela’s main press workers’ union. Its full name is the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa.

It tracks press freedom and defends journalists against government actions. The union regularly issues alerts and reports on cases like these.

How the numbers changed

In April 2026, the SNTP said at least eight journalists were still under prosecution. That number dropped to six by September.

One journalist, Deysi Peña, got her case dismissed in April under the Amnesty Law. That explains part of the drop.

What each side says

The SNTP says the cases are political persecution. It demands full freedom for the six and an end to all restrictions.

Venezuelan courts have not commented publicly on these cases. No government body responded to the manifesto by the time of publication.

What happens next

The six journalists must keep appearing in court and obey travel bans. Their cases remain open until courts rule.

The SNTP will keep pushing for dismissals under the Amnesty Law. International groups may also pressure Venezuela on press freedom.

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