NEW YORK—In response to reports that Telemundo’s Daniel Garrido has been abducted and detained in Venezuela, PEN America Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Nossel issued the following statement:

“The abduction of Telemundo’s Daniel Garrido, following close on the heels of the detention of Jorge Ramos and his Univision team, is a shocking and unacceptable attack on international journalists by the Maduro regime. The Venezuelan government has gone to great lengths to crush independent journalism in the country, and Venezuelan journalists have faced significant attacks in recent years. As a result, international journalists are essential in illuminating this moment of crisis in Venezuela, and these attacks are a brazen effort to silence them. The Maduro regime must respect the freedom of the press and immediately guarantee the safety of journalists working in Venezuela.”

###

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. pen.org

CONTACT: Anoosh Gasparian, External Relations Manager: [email protected]