Journalists arrested

last updated 8 January 2015

Caracas, Venezuela

Two prominent Venezuelan media figures were named as suspects this week in connection with a car bombing that killed a federal investigator last year. Both journalists—prize-winning radio and newspaper writer Patricia Poleo, and Globovision TV station owner Nelson Mezerhane—have been frequent critics of President Hugo Chavez. Venezuelan Prosecutor General Isaias Rodriquez said the conspirators met with a rogue National Guard commander and a former general to plan the killing, which they hoped would destabilize Venezuela. David Natera Febres, president of the Venezuelan Press Association, called the charges “a farce” designed to “scare the Venezuelan people and restrict the liberty of expression.”