Amidst a backdrop of crippling inflation and international sanctions, Venezuela's authoritarian government is shifting its focus to controlling economic discourse by detaining independent economists.
Venezuela's Crackdown on Economists: A New Chapter in Authoritarian Control
Venezuela's Crackdown on Economists: A New Chapter in Authoritarian Control
As President Maduro intensifies measures against dissent, economists become the latest group targeted by Venezuelan authorities.
In a sweeping move that could further stifle economic discourse, Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has escalated his crackdown, now targeting economists who dare to disclose the grim realities of the nation's financial collapse.
As inflation spirals due to renewed U.S. sanctions, authorities are reportedly detaining independent economic experts to suppress unfavorable data. Recent reports highlight that approximately two dozen economists have been arrested over the last two months, according to both a human rights organization and official government sources. This wave of arrests indicates a clear strategy to stifle information and control public perception regarding the country's economic status.
"By silencing those who present a more accurate picture of the economy, the regime aims to create a fabricated narrative that obscures the realities of our ongoing crisis," claims Phil Gunson, a veteran analyst with the International Crisis Group. The Venezuelan Central Bank has long neglected to provide essential economic statistics like inflation rates, leading experts to rely on independent research, which is now under severe threat.
In a country where the currency collapse has led to a dual-currency economy — the bolívar being the official currency while the dollar prevails in actual transactions — the government's attempt to restrain independent economic reporting only amplifies the existing turmoil.
As inflation spirals due to renewed U.S. sanctions, authorities are reportedly detaining independent economic experts to suppress unfavorable data. Recent reports highlight that approximately two dozen economists have been arrested over the last two months, according to both a human rights organization and official government sources. This wave of arrests indicates a clear strategy to stifle information and control public perception regarding the country's economic status.
"By silencing those who present a more accurate picture of the economy, the regime aims to create a fabricated narrative that obscures the realities of our ongoing crisis," claims Phil Gunson, a veteran analyst with the International Crisis Group. The Venezuelan Central Bank has long neglected to provide essential economic statistics like inflation rates, leading experts to rely on independent research, which is now under severe threat.
In a country where the currency collapse has led to a dual-currency economy — the bolívar being the official currency while the dollar prevails in actual transactions — the government's attempt to restrain independent economic reporting only amplifies the existing turmoil.
