Venezuelan court acquits journalist Rory Branker after nearly a year in detention
Venezuelan justice acquitted the editor of La Patilla, accused of terrorism and treason. Two other journalists remain with open cases.
Branker acquitted of terrorism and treason after 11 months in detention
Venezuelan justice acquitted journalist Rory Branker on 2 October, editor of La Patilla, who faced charges of terrorism, conspiracy, treason, association to commit crime and other offences, reported dw.com. The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) confirmed the decision that same Friday.
"The Second Trial Court with competence in terrorism issued on 2 October an acquittal judgment in the case of Rory Branker. The decision restores his full freedom", said the SNTP in a message published on X.
Branker had been arrested on 20 February 2025. Among the reasons for his detention was a publication he shared on X about the rewards offered by the United States in exchange for information leading to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and ministers Diosdado Cabello and Interior Minister, and Vladimir Padrino, then Defence Minister, according to the SNTP.
The journalist accumulated 11 months and 15 days in prison before being released on 4 February 2026. Since then he had remained under a regime of periodic appearance before the courts and with a prohibition on leaving the country.
Branker's acquittal adds to those of journalists Luis López and Gabriel González, whose cases for alleged crimes of incitement and incitement to hatred were closed the previous Wednesday.
The acquittal sentences come days after Jorge Rodríguez, head negotiator for the Chavista side in dialogue with a sector of the opposition, promised the lifting of precautionary measures against journalists with open judicial proceedings. Rodríguez framed the measure within agreements reached on freedom of expression during the second cycle of dialogue promoted by the United States.
Nevertheless, two journalists continue with pending cases: Jonathan Carrillo and Carlos Julio Rojas remain obliged to appear periodically before the courts and remain subject to restrictions arising from their proceedings, the SNTP recalled.
Source: Google News VE — Crime