CARACAS, Venezuela — Univision anchor Jorge Ramos and his news crew were detained after interviewing embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and then were released, according to the American Spanish-language network, Univision.
Univision’s president of news in the U.S., Daniel Coronell, said Monday that Maduro “arbitrarily detained” the group at the Miraflores Palace, the country’s presidential palace, in Caracas because he “did not like their questions.”
Atención: Un grupo periodístico de @Univision, encabezado por @jorgeramosnews, está arbitrariamente retenido en el Palacio de Miraflores en Caracas porque a @NicolasMaduro no le gustaron sus preguntas. También están confiscados los equipos técnicos.
— Daniel Coronell (@DCoronell) February 26, 2019
Paola Ramos confirmed her father had been detained and that the team’s electronic equipment had been confiscated. She confirmed on social media late Monday that her father was safe.
“He told me that 15 minutes into his interview, Maduro stopped him and then forced him and his team into a dark room for 2.5 hours,” she said. “He was then released without any of his belongings.”
just talked to my dad. He is safe. He told me that 15 mins into his interview, Maduro stopped him & then forced him & his team into a dark room for 2.5 hours. He was then released without any of his belongings. https://t.co/VoHuESZUK1
— Paola Ramos (@paoramos) February 26, 2019
Maduro's communications minister, Jorge Rodriguez, told Univision that no journalists were detained, the Miami Herald reported.
“According to Rodriguez, Jorge Ramos insulted Maduro,” Univision anchor Patricia Janiot said.
The incident follows a deadly weekend at the Venezuelan border, where at least four people died and hundreds more were injured trying to help get international aid shipments into the country. Military forces under Maduro have been blockading the border to prevent aid from reaching citizens.
Tensions in the beleaguered nation have been escalating since January, when the head of Venezuela's Congress, Juan Guaido, challenged Maduro's authority. Many nations, including the U.S., now recognize Guaido as the rightful president of Venezuela.
Cox Media Group
