Venezuela: 326 Opposition Members Targeted in Exile – New Report
The Venezuelan government has escalated its efforts to silence and intimidate political opponents living in exile, according to a new report detailing 326 verified cases of transnational persecution between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. The findings, released by the organization Un Mundo Sin Mordaza, demonstrate a systematic pattern of repression extending beyond Venezuela’s borders.
The report documents a range of tactics employed by the state, including public smear campaigns, administrative harassment through consular services, and, in some instances, the use of international legal mechanisms to pursue individuals outside the country. According to the investigation, these actions are not isolated incidents but a continuation of established repressive patterns adapted to target the diaspora.
The most frequently identified method of persecution is extraterritorial stigmatization and propaganda, accounting for 176 cases – nearly 54% of the total documented. This involves the systematic use of official narratives and media platforms to discredit exiled opposition figures, portraying them as threats or undermining their activism. While these actions do not always result in physical detention, the report notes they contribute to a climate of isolation, job loss, and increased migration risks for those targeted and their families.
A significant portion of the documented cases, 112 representing over 34%, involve consular-administrative repression. This includes arbitrary delays in processing documents, outright denials of essential paperwork, and the imposition of conditions linked to an individual’s political stance. The report highlights that for vulnerable migrants, the inability to renew passports or obtain official documentation can create legal vulnerabilities in their host countries, amplifying the coercive effect of these actions.
Beyond administrative hurdles, the report details 23 cases of extraterritorial criminal prosecution, where the Venezuelan justice system has been used to initiate investigations or issue requests related to individuals no longer residing in the country. Two instances involved the alleged misuse of international police mechanisms, suggesting attempts to leverage cooperation channels for pursuing opponents abroad. Five cases involved the physical presence of agents or para-state networks outside of Venezuela, three involved reprisals against family members still within the country, and two involved coercive actions related to migration status in host nations.
Un Mundo Sin Mordaza also documented three cases of transnational digital repression, characterized by coordinated online campaigns involving disinformation, identity theft, and the mass dissemination of damaging content. While representing a smaller percentage of the total, the organization emphasizes the complexity and broad reach of these digital operations.
Rodrigo Diamanti, president of Un Mundo Sin Mordaza, stated in a press conference that the state repression extends beyond Venezuela’s borders, according to reporting from Diario Contraste.
The organization acknowledges that the 326 documented cases likely represent a minimum verifiable figure. Factors such as self-censorship, fear of retaliation against family members, and concerns about migration status limit public reporting, even among those living outside Venezuela. The report suggests the actual scale of the repression may be considerably larger, but the available evidence is sufficient to demonstrate a systematic pattern of persecution.
As of today, the Venezuelan government has not issued a public response to the allegations contained within the report.