Since President Nicolás Maduro claimed re-election victory, the Venezuelan government has revoked the passports of dozens of journalists and activists, an escalation of the authoritarian president's campaign of repression against opponents, human rights groups say. The Financial Times reported that this is part of what they are claiming.
The newspaper reported on Saturday that at least 40 people, mostly journalists and human rights activists, had their passports revoked without explanation, citing the Caracas-based human rights group Laboratorio de Paz.
The group warned that the number of people whose passports have been revoked could be even higher because Venezuelans are afraid to report cases, the FT reported.
Laboratorio de Paz could not immediately be reached for this report.
Citing human rights groups, the newspaper reported that authorities confiscated passports of people attempting to board flights from the country's main airport.
The newspaper said the government has found that passport revocation is an effective way to neutralize and silence critical voices with minimal effort, unlike murder and torture, which carry higher political costs, human rights groups said. The report quoted Rafael Uzcategui, co-representative of the
Maduro was declared the winner by electoral and judicial authorities in South America's disputed July vote, a claim rejected by opposition parties as false.
