Venezuela Digital Blackout, Cuba Rearrests Dissidents, and WP Engine Blocks HRF Tracker

HRF condemns Delcy Rodríguez’s regime for continuing to weaponize state censorship and political repression in Venezuela. The regime continues to block more than 200 digital domains, including 65 independent news outlets. As local NGO @vesinfiltro noted, ending this blackout requires no legal reforms — only the political will to order internet service providers to lift the blocks immediately.

Digital censorship is just one layer of a continued, systematic pattern of repression and control. @CNPcaracas registered 134 attacks against journalists and media outlets between January and July, including 23 arbitrary detentions, 15 deportations of foreign correspondents, and 4 station shutdowns. Furthermore, state security forces under minister Diosdado Cabello have routinely harassed and intimidated reporters to prevent them from documenting critical events, including the aftermath of the earthquakes.

Despite promises of reform, the regime’s repressive apparatus remains fully intact and operational. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk (@UNHumanRights) expressed concern that human rights violations and reports of torture in detention centers persist. Meanwhile, @ForoPenal confirmed that at least 328 political prisoners remain arbitrarily detained in Venezuela, enduring severe conditions even as official channels routinely inflate release numbers.

While HRF welcomes the release of political prisoners, true freedom cannot be conditional. Releasing individuals under heavy judicial restrictions, travel bans, and ongoing court presentations — only to re-arrest others through a continuous “revolving door” mechanism — is a tactic to silence dissent. Democracies, and the United States in particular, must not be deceived by partial releases: They must demand an immediate end to censorship, the dismantling of the repressive state apparatus, and the unconditional release of all political prisoners.

HRF condemns the Cuban regime’s systematic persecution of critics and dissidents and its ongoing revictimization of former political prisoners. Andy García and all other prisoners of conscience held on politically motivated charges must be released immediately.

On Aug. 30, the Cuban regime detained Andy García, who had already been unlawfully detained for years after he participated in the July 11 (11J) protests in 2021. He was sentenced back then to four years in prison and was released in 2025.

García is not the only former 11J prisoner who has been sent back to prison for their activism. In May, Yoan de la Cruz — the first one to spread images of the 11J protests back in 2021 — was also detained again, after having been released, and has spent four months so far under arbitrary detention.

On Aug. 14, another former 11J prisoner, Maikel Armenteros Oramas, had his parole revoked after he participated in a protest against recurring power cuts on the island. This case demonstrates not only the regime’s continued persecution of those who oppose it politically, but also its punishment of anyone who voices any form of public discontent or criticism.