Swiss journalist in Venezuela at large again
The Swiss journalist, who had been arrested while working on a report at a prison in northern Venezuela, has been released along with two colleagues.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed on Sunday evening that it had received information to this effect from Venezuela's National Union of Journalists (SNTP).
The three journalists were arrested while visiting a prison. According to the SNTP, they were carrying recording devices that had apparently not been authorized (Werbewoche.ch reported).
Those arrested and later released are Filippo Rossi, a freelance journalist from Lugano, the Italian Roberto Di Matteo and Jesus Medina from Venezuela, as SNTP (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa) announced on Twitter on Saturday (local time).
The three journalists were reportedly on a research trip in the state of Aragua. They wanted to visit the Tocorón prison there. They were arrested by the security forces. The prison is notorious for precarious conditions and repeated acts of violence.
Contact was broken off on Saturday, the journalists' association explained. Its representative has since had access to the three men. They are doing well. There were no signs of torture.
The association published a photo on Twitter showing the detainees from behind. Cell phones, a Swiss passport and other IDs can also be seen. (SDA)
Picture: Twitter.com / SNTP
