With just three days left until the presidential elections in Venezuela, Argentine journalist Jorge Pizarro has found himself in a challenging situation. Venezuelan immigration authorities banned him from entering the country, and he is currently detained at Caracas airport, awaiting deportation.
Pizarro had traveled to Venezuela to cover the elections for Radio Rivadavia. Upon his arrival, he reported undergoing more than ten interrogations. Immigration officers informed him that he could not perform his journalistic duties “due to not meeting the entry requirements for the country.”
In an interview, Pizarro explained that when he arrived at immigration, there was an unusual process that led to his separation from other travelers. He initially thought the checks were routine until a woman in a navy uniform with a bright green emblem, representing the Ministry of Public Affairs, began a rigorous questioning session without explaining the reason. She then handed him over to another individual in plain clothes, who repeated nearly the same line of questioning.
The situation escalated when a senior officer threatened to detain Pizarro after he questioned the repeated inquiries. He recounted, “When I dared to ask why I was being asked the same questions repeatedly, as I had always provided the same answers, the officer nearly arrested me. He stated that he was in charge of the questions, and I could only respond as directed.”
Pizarro then realized the gravity of his situation. From that point on, he faced ten more rounds of questioning, primarily consisting of the same eight questions. He mentioned that authorities took 14 different photographs of him, confiscated his passport, and moved him to a detention and deportation office where he was made to record a video.
As of now, the story continues to develop. For those interested in more about the unfolding situation in Venezuela, additional information can be found via various news outlets and global news websites.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/politica/2024/07/25/el-gobierno-de-maduro-impidio-el-ingreso-de-un-periodista-argentino-a-venezuela-fue-retenido-interrogado-y-sera-deportado/
