Forgot your password?
Colombians Maurén Barriga Vargas (centre), a journalist, and Leonardo Muñoz (left), a photographer, along with the latter's driver, Venezuelan José Salas and Spanish journalist Gonzalo Domínguez Loeda were detained in the capital, Caracas, at the EFE office based there.
Members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) detained Gonzalo and Maurén at the EFE branch last night (Wednesday), and told them the other two had been arrested earlier by the Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCIM).
Gonzalo and Maurén were escorted to their hotel to collect their belongings before being taken into custody and questioned.
Head of EFE in Caracas, Nélida Fernández, says she and the agency's lawyer are closely following the situation and attempting to clarify the arrest with Venezuelan authorities in order to secure their workers' release as soon as possible.
The two Colombians and the Spaniard had travelled from Bogotá to Caracas on Thursday, January 17 to help cover the political crisis, and were held up at Caracas' Maiquetía airport after being identified as reporters.
Intelligence, migration and customs authorities subjected them to interviews and security filters lasting nearly three hours before they allowed them into the country without restrictions.
Spain's government has totally condemned the arrests and demanded Nicolás Maduro order their immediate release.
Spanish president Pedro Sánchez says his government is in close contact with the embassy in Caracas and fighting to get the EFE workers out of jail.
He has already threatened Maduro that Spain will formally recognise his disputed successor Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan president if Maduro employs violence, repression or armed conflict in an attempt to return to power.
“No governor can be legitimate if his or her subjects have to leave the country for their own safety,” Sánchez said of Maduro.
Later today, the European Parliament is expected to announce its official recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan president, in line with the USA and the majority of Latin America – except Cuba, which supports Maduro – and in contrast to Russia, which also backs the now-ex leader.
KING Felipe VI's annual Christmas Eve speech once again included a covert appeal to secessionist politicians, as well as raising concerns about young adults' struggle to afford housing and violence against women.
'BRAVE' servicemen and women who will spend Christmas overseas are 'making Spain proud', president Pedro Sánchez assured them during his annual festive message via video-call.
NEWLY sworn-in national president Pedro Sánchez is now starting the challenging task of building his cabinet among a very divided coalition, although several names from his previous tenure are tipped to be returning to...
A NEW and limited-edition €2 coin will be in circulation in Spain until the end of this year to mark the country's Council of Europe presidency 'shift', the Royal mint has revealed.
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Apple