Armando.Info

Spanish national newspaper El País said that the world would know little of the recent turmoil in Venezuela if not for the "in-depth reports" published by Armando.Info.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/10/23/america/1540250452_002955.html|title=Armando.Info|website=El País|author=Martínez, Ibsen|date=23 October 2018|access-date=15 April 2019|language=es}} It reports on all matters that contribute to the crisis in Venezuela, including corruption in other countries. One report on Mexican exploitation by overpricing CLAP boxes sold to the Venezuelan government even as it was filling them with expired food products won the website the ICFJ Knight Prize. However, since the report showed weakness in the government, many of the reporters had to flee the country in exile; they continued to investigate and brought the responsible company to trial in Colombia and put on a United States watchlist.{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article221016540.html|title=Their reporting on Venezuela's hunger led to exile. Now they're being honored.|website=Miami Herald|author=Wyss, Jim|date=2 November 2018|access-date=15 April 2019}} As of 2019, according to the Global Investigative Journalism Network, the group was mainly funded by grants from the Open Society Foundations and the National Endowment for Democracy.{{Cite web |last=gfaure |date=2019-07-24 |title=How Armando.info's Exiled Reporters Keep Reporting on Venezuela |url=https://gijn.org/2019/07/24/how-armando-infos-exiled-reporters-keep-reporting-on-venezuela/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Global Investigative Journalism Network |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Armando.info received the Global Shining Light Award for an investigation about illegal mining operations in Venezuela.{{cite news |last1=Simó Sulbarán |first1=Madelen Rocio |title=ArmandoInfo gana premio de la Red Global de Periodismo de Investigación |trans-title= ArmandoInfo wins Global Investigative Journalism Network Award|url=https://elpitazo.net/gran-caracas/armandoinfo-gana-premio-de-la-red-global-de-periodismo-de-investigacion/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |agency=El Pitazo |date=21 September 2023 |language = es}}

In April and September 2017 four investigative journalists published reports in Armando.info about inflated food prices within the CLAP initiative, exposing Colombian businessman Alex Saab's relationship with the Venezuelan government.{{cite web |last=Sabados |first=Katarina |date=2018-02-08 |title=Venezuelan Journalists Flee After Receiving Threats |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/7613-venezuelan-journalists-flee-after-receiving-threats |access-date=2021-10-18 |website=OCCRP}}{{cite news |last=Calzadilla |first=Tamoa |date=9 February 2018 |title=Businessman who sued Univision Noticias lashes out in Venezuela against four journalists who had to leave the country |work=Univisión |url=https://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/businessman-who-sued-univision-noticias-lashes-out-in-venezuela-against-four-journalists-who-had-to-leave-the-country?123 |access-date=5 Aug 2021}} The first report showed Saab's connections to Hong Kong based Grupo Grand (including the listing of his son as a beneficiary and the company sharing an address with another of Saab's enterprises; Saab rejected the allegations) and that it charged the Venezuelan government prices far above the market rate. The second report investigated Luisa Ortega's allegations about the CLAP programme.{{cite web |last=Chavkin |first=Sasha |date=2018-02-09 |title='I am still in shock': Journalists flee Venezuela to publish ongoing investigation, amid legal threats |url=https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2018/02/still-shock-journalists-flee-venezuela-publish-ongoing-investigation-amid-legal-threats/ |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=ICIJ}} A joint report between the Central University of Venezuela and Armando.info showed that milk powder supplied by Saab's company was not nutritious, having high levels of sodium, low levels of calcium and only 1/41 the protein of normal milk.{{cite web |date=2018-08-28 |title='It is not the time to shut up': Venezuelan journalists remain in exile as press freedom attacks continue |url=https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2018/08/it-is-not-the-time-to-shut-up-venezuelan-journalists-remain-in-exile-as-press-freedom-attacks-continue/|first=Will|last=Fitzgibbon |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=ICIJ}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-18 |title=Leche de los Clap no es nutritiva, según investigación de Armando.info |url=https://efectococuyo.com/la-humanidad/leche-de-los-clap-no-es-nutritiva-segun-investigacion-de-armando-info/ |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=Efecto Cocuyo |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=18 February 2018 |title=La mala leche de los CLAP |url=https://armando.info/la-mala-leche-de-los-clap/ |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=Armando.info |language=es}}

Following the publication, Armando.info and the journalists were threatened and had their personal information shared on social media, and Saab brought a lawsuit alleging continued defamation of reputation and aggravated injury charges, which carry a prison sentence of up to six years, leading the reporters to flee Venezuela.{{cite news |date=7 February 2018 |title=Empresario Álex Saab demanda a cuatro periodistas de Armando.info |work=El Universo |location=Ecuador |url=https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2018/02/07/nota/6607867/empresario-demanda-cuatro-periodistas-armandoinfo-venezuela |access-date=7 November 2018}}

On 11 September 2018, the National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) of Venezuela banned the Armando.info journalists from publishing information about Saab.{{cite news |last=Moleiro |first=Alonso |date=3 September 2018 |title=Maduro silencia a los medios digitales en Venezuela |website=El País |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/09/02/america/1535909954_649279.html}}{{cite web |date=7 February 2018 |title=Cuatro periodistas huyen de Caracas y se unen al exilio venezolano |url=https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/02/07/5a7b349c268e3e034c8b45ec.html |website=El Mundo (Espana)}} In a document addressed to the journalist {{Interlanguage link|Roberto Deniz|es}} and signed by the general director of CONATEL, Vianey Miguel Rojas "forbids citizens Roberto Denis Machín, Joseph Poliszuk, Ewald Scharfenberg and Alfredo José Meza to publish and disseminate mentions that go against the honor and reputation of the citizen Alex Naím Saab" through digital media, specifically on the site Armando.info, "until the end of the current process in the case being pursued against said citizens".{{cite web |date=11 September 2018 |title=Conatel prohíbe a periodistas de Armando Info publicar informaciones de Alex Saab |url=http://www.noticierodigital.com/2018/09/conatel-prohibe-periodistas-armando-info-publicar-informaciones-alex-saab/ |website=Noticiero Digital}}{{cite web |date=11 September 2018 |title=Prohibieron a periodistas de Armando.info publicar sobre Alex Saab |url=http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/prohibieron-periodistas-armandoinfo-publicar-sobre-alex-saab_251383 |website=El Nacional}}{{cite web |date=12 September 2018 |title=Conatel protege a Alex Saab y censura a medios que informen sobre caso de corrupción CLAP |url=http://www.venezuelaaldia.com/2018/09/12/conatel-protege-alex-saab-censura-medios-informen-caso-corrupcion-clap/ |website=Venezuela al Dia}} The ban was denounced by the Venezuelan National Press Workers' Union (SNTP). Since the reports, the Armando.Info site suffered massive cyber attacks, warning that the ban on mentioning Saab in successive investigation articles "increases the threat". Roberto Deniz rejected the sentence, recalling that after the publications the journalistic team had been threatened via Twitter and banned from leaving the country by the 11th Court in Caracas.{{cite news |last=Martín |first=Sabrina |date=12 September 2018 |title=Venezuela: Alex Saab, el nombre que la dictadura quiere borrar de la prensa |work=Panam Post |url=https://es.panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2018/09/12/venezuela-alex-saab-nombre-que-dictadura-quiere-borrar-de-prensa/ |access-date=13 September 2018}}

{{see also|Operación Alacrán|2020 Venezuelan National Assembly Delegated Committee election}}

On 1 December, Armando.info published an investigation reporting that nine parliamentaries mediated in favor of two businessmen linked with the government. After the investigation was published, the deputies Luis Parra, José Brito, Conrado Pérez and José Gregorio "Goyo" Noriega were suspended and expelled from their parties Justice First and Popular Will.{{cite news|title=Venezuela: denuncian a siete diputados de corrupción|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2019/12/21/venezuela-denuncian-a-siete-diputados-de-corrupcion/|date=20 December 2019|access-date=21 December 2019|work=Infobae}}

The Venezuelan opposition alleged that they were targeted by what they described as a "campaign of bribery and intimidation" by Nicolás Maduro's government in December 2019. Venezuelan lawmakers and the US State Department said that opposition deputies, in parties led or allied with Guaidó, were being offered up to US$1 million to not vote for him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article238905873.html|title=Will Venezuela's 'Operation Scorpion' sting Guaidó in Sunday's key election?|last1=Wyss|first1=Jim|last2=Delgado|first2=Antonio Maria|date=3 January 2020|website=Miami Herald|access-date=5 January 2020}} Luis Parra and other opposition deputies were removed from their parties following allegations that they were being bribed by Maduro.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elnacional.com/venezuela/luis-parra-aclaro-los-motivos-de-su-viaje-a-paises-europeos-en-abril-junto-con-otros-diputados/|title=Luis Parra aclaró los motivos de su viaje a países europeos en abril junto con otros diputados|date=2019-12-04|website=El Nacional|language=es|access-date=2020-01-05}} National Assembly deputies Ismael León and Luis Stefanelli directly accused Parra in December 2019 of attempting to bribe deputies to vote against Guaidó.{{Cite web|url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/claves-luis-parra-la-bisagra-en-el-mecanismo-de-traicion-a-guaido/|title=CLAVES {{!}} Luis Parra: la bisagra en el mecanismo de traición a Guaidó|last=Pitazo|first=Redacción El|date=2019-12-23|website=El Pitazo|language=es-VE|access-date=2020-01-05}} Parra denied the allegations and said he was open to being investigated for corruption. Weeks prior to his investigation, Parra openly shared support for Guaidó and promoted his protest movement.

Deputy Delsa Solórzano accused Nicolás Maduro on CNN Radio Argentina of directing the operation. According to her, the government resorted to this method after failing to incarcerate or suspend the parliamentary immunity of the deputies, denouncing a considerable increase of political persecution as 5 January was approaching, explaining that security forces have gone to the houses of many deputies without alternates, and the only one with one, according to Solórzano, did accept the bribe.{{cite news|last1=Vidal|first1=Pepe Gil|title=Venezuela: ¿qué es la Operación Alacrán?|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/radio/2019/12/18/venezuela-que-es-la-operacion-alacran/|access-date=21 December 2019|agency=Por CNN Radio Argentina|date=18 December 2019}}

On 3 January 2020, Nicmer Evans, a Caracas-based analyst, alleged that Maduro had managed to cause 14 deputies to not cast a vote for Guaidó through these tactics. Guaidó theoretically controlled 112 seats in the Assembly at the time, needing 84 votes to win.

On 11 September 2018, the National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) banned journalists from publishing information about Colombian businessman Alex Saab in Armando.Info, whose journalist investigations point out Saab of being involved in corruption of his business and the CLAP food distribution network.{{cite news|last=Moleiro|first=Alonso|title=Maduro silencia a los medios digitales en Venezuela|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/09/02/america/1535909954_649279.html|date=3 September 2018|access-date=11 October 2018|work=El País|issn=1134-6582|language=es}}{{cite news|title=Cuatro periodistas huyen de Caracas y se unen al exilio venezolano|url=http://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/02/07/5a7b349c268e3e034c8b45ec.html|date=7 February 2018|access-date=11 October 2018|work=El Mundo|location=España|language=es}} The prohibition was denounced by the Press Workers Union Syndicate, who previously also denounced that Armando Info's website was the target of massive cybernetic attacks. Journalist Roberto Deniz condemned the decision, reminding that the team had been previously threatened in Twitter and were prohibited from exiting the country.{{cite news|last=Martín|first=Sabrina|title=Venezuela: Alex Saab, el nombre que la dictadura quiere borrar de la prensa|url=https://es.panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2018/09/12/venezuela-alex-saab-nombre-que-dictadura-quiere-borrar-de-prensa/|date=12 September 2018|access-date=13 September 2018|work=Panam Post}}

Despite censorship, investigative articles from Armando.info have uncovered the profiles of various individuals involved in violating sanctions targeting Venezuela.

One such case is that of Antonio González Morales, known for his close ties with the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro[https://armando.info/el-futbolito-que-se-juega-detras-de-la-fvf/ Armando.Info on the Venezuelan Football Federation], an article that discusses the connections of businessmen like González Morales within Venezuelan football. and his involvement in various infrastructure projects and subsidized food distribution initiatives.Roberto Deniz, [https://armando.info/el-nuevo-crack-del-chavismo-jorge-gimenez-golea-a-alex-saab-en-los-clap Armando.Info on Jorge Giménez and Antonio González Morales], "The new 'crack' of Chavismo: Jorge Giménez scores against Alex Saab in the CLAP and PDVSA", armando.info Antonio González Morales has been linked to a Venezuelan oil-for-food exchange network, allegedly aimed at circumventing international sanctions, along with his partners, the Martín and Maximilien Merckx Landaluce brothers.

The network operates through a system where PDVSA, the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, trades oil for food intended for the CLAP program (Local Supply and Production Committees), which distributes essential goods in Venezuela.

Antonio González Morales and his partners have been mentioned in the press as leaders of this network.Roberto Deniz, "The new 'crack' of Chavismo: Jorge Giménez scores against Alex Saab in the CLAP program and Pdvsa," armando.info, 14.10.2024 The Merckx brothers are known for their involvement in exports and imports from Venezuela on behalf of Nicolás Maduro's government.Isabel Guerrero, "The official monopoly of Venezuelan cocoa starts in Miranda," armando.info, 14.10.2024

Additionally, Antonio González Morales is noted for his role in a real estate network whose main figures, including Armando Capriles, have been accused of illegal practices.Reporte de la Economía, "[https://reportedelaeconomia.com/venezuela/armando-capriles-y-la-historia-de-su-fortuna-con-las-finanzas-estatales-de-venezuela/ Armando Capriles and the story of his fortune through Venezuela's state finances]," reportedelaeconomia.com Investigations reveal that Antonio's cousins are partners of Leonard BoordMontse Álvarez, "[https://elfarodelmorro.net/armando-coco-capriles-y-su-historia-de-poder-conflictos-familiares-y-opacos-negocios-en-venezuela-a-la-sombra-del-poder-que-pudieran-acarrearle-problemas-con-la-justicia/ Armando 'Coco' Capriles: The story of power, family conflicts, and opaque business dealings in Venezuela under the shadow of power]," elfarodelmorro.net, 14.10.2024 and Armando Capriles, a former Venezuelan congressman and now a controversial businessman. Gilberto Morales and Armando Capriles are also part of the same network and have been accused of participating in illicit financial transactions involving $60 billion with the National Development Fund and the Central Bank of Venezuela. The duo reportedly received commissions of up to 5%, described as generous.Reporte de la Economía, "Armando Capriles and the story of his fortune through Venezuela's state finances," reportedelaeconomia.com, 14.10.2024

• Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

{{reflist}}

{{Panama Papers leak}}

Category:Venezuelan news websites

Category:Media of the Crisis in Venezuela