CARACAS (Reuters) – A well-known Venezuelan entertainment journalist arrested in Caracas over the weekend has been released, a media union said on Monday, but she faces terrorism charges as the fallout from the country’s disputed July 28 presidential election widens.
Carmela Longo, who until last week worked at the pro-government Ultimas Noticias newspaper, was arrested on Sunday after her house was raided by police, the National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela (SNTP) said on the X social media site.
She was charged with terrorism and inciting hatred during a virtual hearing on Monday, and was later released, it said. Her teenage son also was briefly detained over the weekend.
Longo is not allowed to leave the country or write about her case and must appear periodically before authorities, the union has said. It says at least eight other reporters have been detained following last month’s election.
Venezuela’s electoral council has proclaimed socialist President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, as the winner of the vote despite opposition tallies showing a resounding victor for its candidate.
The Ministry of Information and the Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
(Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Paul Simao)
