The Venezuelan government has canceled the passports of dozens of journalists and activists since President Nicolas Maduro claimed a reelection victory over the summer, marking what rights groups are calling a growing campaign of repression against the leader’s critics, according to media reports.
At least 40 people — primarily journalists and activists — have had their passports nullified without any explanation, the Financial Times first reported Saturday, citing the Venezuela-based Laboratorio de Paz.
The rights group said that people have had their passports confiscated while trying to board flights at the country’s main airport.
The news comes after Maduro was declared the winner of Venezuela’s widely contested July vote by electoral and judicial authorities.
Venezuela’s opposition rejects claims that Maduro won. Ten Latin American governments and the United States have also said they reject the Venezuelan supreme court’s decision to confirm Maduro’s claim to have won reelection.
More than 2,000 journalists, activists and antigovernment protesters have been arrested in Venezuela since the contested election, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported.
Laboratorio de Paz warned that the number of people whose passports were voided is probably much higher since many Venezuelans are likely afraid to report such incidents.
The Venezuelan government is far from the only one that targets critics by limiting their movement.
An August report by Freedom House found that at least 55 governments over the past decade have restricted the freedom of movement for people they perceive as threats, including journalists.
“This is a type of tactic that really shows the vindictive and punitive nature of some countries,” Jessica White, the report’s co-author, told VOA in August.
Venezuela ranks 156 out of 180 countries and territories on the World Press Freedom Index, where No.1 shows the best environment for media freedom.
