Armando.Info
Venezuelan investigative journalism website

Armando.Info
Type of site
News site
Available inSpanish
Founded2010 (as an informal project)
20 July 2014 (formal launch)
Headquarters
Venezuela
URLarmando.info
Current statusOnline

Armando.Info is a Venezuelan investigative journalism website that was founded in 2014. Armando.info is a long-term partner of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and has worked on many projects, including the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers.[1]

History

Armando.info first appeared in 2010 as an emerging investigative journalism project. Its formal launch took place in July 2014. Since then, it has published weekly investigative reports containing accurate, well-documented information. By October 2017, the Armando.info community had produced and disseminated over 300 reports. The platform is considered by the media to be a benchmark for investigative journalism in Venezuela, covering issues such as money laundering, human rights and environmental problems.[2]

The Armando.info journalism team, led by co-founder José María Poliszuk, has received multiple awards for its work. These include a special mention in the Maria Moors Cabot Prize 'for its extraordinary impact in the region' and the Knight International Journalism Award in 2018, which recognises journalists whose resilient work has had a positive impact on societies in complex situations. The Knight International Journalism Award was given to Poliszuk for being one of two 'courageous pioneers of digital information'. In 2017, Poliszuk published on Armando.info links between a businessman associated with Nicolás Maduro and a government programme intended to combat hunger and shortages. This investigation resulted in a defamation lawsuit and forced Poliszuk and other journalists into exile. [3]

Co-founder Joseph Poliszuk is a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), for which he coordinated the Venezuelan team on the Panama Papers project. In 2019, he was awarded the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship from Stanford University, and in 2020 he joined the Pulitzer Centre's Rainforest Investigation Network.[4]

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.[5] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

There are also several prominent female journalists in the field, including Isayen Herrera, Mari Carmen Vieira and Carol Padilla. Herrera works for the New York Times and was a finalist for the Livingston Prize for her investigation into the reproductive rights of Venezuelan women, which was published in the newspaper. In 2021, she won the Press and Society Institute Award for her report From Merchants to Scientists: The True Miracle of Carvativir, which was published on Armando.info.[8]

In 2023, Armando.info received the Global Shining Light Award for an investigation about illegal mining operations in Venezuela.[9]

In 2025, Armando.info received the Excellence Award from the Gabo Awards, presented by the Gabo Foundation in Bogotá. This journalism award recognised the ‘rigorous exercise of the craft of journalism and its commitment to the truth in an era marked by misinformation’. Ewald Scharfenberg, co-founder of Armando.info, represented the digital research platform.[10]

Alex Saab

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.[11][12] 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.[13] 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.[14][15][16]

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.[17][11][13]

On 11 September 2018, the National Commission of Telecommunications (CONATEL) of Venezuela banned the Armando.info journalists from publishing information about Saab.[18][19] In a document addressed to the journalist 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".[20][21][22] 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.[23][20][21][22]

Operación Alacrán

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.[24]

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.[25] Luis Parra and other opposition deputies were removed from their parties following allegations that they were being bribed by Maduro.[26] National Assembly deputies Ismael León and Luis Stefanelli directly accused Parra in December 2019 of attempting to bribe deputies to vote against Guaidó.[27] Parra denied the allegations and said he was open to being investigated for corruption.[26] Weeks prior to his investigation, Parra openly shared support for Guaidó and promoted his protest movement.[27]

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.[28]

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.[25]

Antonio González Morales

One such case is that of Antonio González Morales, known for his close ties with the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro and his involvement in various infrastructure projects and subsidized food distribution initiatives. Antonio González Morales has been linked to a Venezuelan oil-for-food exchange network, allegedly aimed at circumventing international sanctions, alongside his business partners Jorge Giménez and Martin Merckx.[29]

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

Antonio González Morales and his partners have been mentioned in the press as leaders of this network. Martin Merckx in particular has been involved in the exportation of cocoa beans from Venezuela to other countries like Estonia.[29][30]

Censorship

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.[31][32] 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.[33]

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Chavkin, Sasha (9 February 2018). "'I am still in shock': Journalists flee Venezuela to publish ongoing investigation, amid legal threats". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Armando.Info". Report for the World. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  3. ^ Nalvarte, Paola (18 August 2018). "Cuatro periodistas venezolanos que enfrentan una demanda por difamación tienen ahora impedimento de salida del país". LatAm Journalism Review. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Joseph Poliszuk Halle – Logan Symposium". events.journalism.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b Martínez, Ibsen (23 October 2018). "Armando.Info". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  6. ^ Wyss, Jim (2 November 2018). "Their reporting on Venezuela's hunger led to exile. Now they're being honored". Miami Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  7. ^ gfaure (24 July 2019). "How Armando.info's Exiled Reporters Keep Reporting on Venezuela". Global Investigative Journalism Network. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  8. ^ "» Isayen Herrera | Armando.info y Centro de Periodismo Investigativo » Centro de Periodismo Investigativo". Centro de Periodismo Investigativo. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  9. ^ Simó Sulbarán, Madelen Rocio (21 September 2023). "ArmandoInfo gana premio de la Red Global de Periodismo de Investigación" [ArmandoInfo wins Global Investigative Journalism Network Award] (in Spanish). El Pitazo. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. ^ Sánchez, Santiago Triana (26 July 2025). "Laura Zommer, 'Armando.info' y Patrícia Campos Mello: la excelencia periodística reconocida en los Premios Gabo 2025". El País América Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  11. ^ a b Sabados, Katarina (8 February 2018). "Venezuelan Journalists Flee After Receiving Threats". OCCRP. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  12. ^ Calzadilla, Tamoa (9 February 2018). "Businessman who sued Univision Noticias lashes out in Venezuela against four journalists who had to leave the country". Univisión. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  13. ^ a b Chavkin, Sasha (9 February 2018). "'I am still in shock': Journalists flee Venezuela to publish ongoing investigation, amid legal threats". ICIJ. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  14. ^ Fitzgibbon, Will (28 August 2018). "'It is not the time to shut up': Venezuelan journalists remain in exile as press freedom attacks continue". ICIJ. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Leche de los Clap no es nutritiva, según investigación de Armando.info". Efecto Cocuyo (in Spanish). 18 February 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  16. ^ "La mala leche de los CLAP". Armando.info (in Spanish). 18 February 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Empresario Álex Saab demanda a cuatro periodistas de Armando.info". El Universo. Ecuador. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  18. ^ Moleiro, Alonso (3 September 2018). "Maduro silencia a los medios digitales en Venezuela". El País.
  19. ^ "Cuatro periodistas huyen de Caracas y se unen al exilio venezolano". El Mundo (Espana). 7 February 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Conatel prohíbe a periodistas de Armando Info publicar informaciones de Alex Saab". Noticiero Digital. 11 September 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Prohibieron a periodistas de Armando.info publicar sobre Alex Saab". El Nacional. 11 September 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Conatel protege a Alex Saab y censura a medios que informen sobre caso de corrupción CLAP". Venezuela al Dia. 12 September 2018.
  23. ^ Martín, Sabrina (12 September 2018). "Venezuela: Alex Saab, el nombre que la dictadura quiere borrar de la prensa". Panam Post. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Venezuela: denuncian a siete diputados de corrupción". Infobae. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  25. ^ a b Wyss, Jim; Delgado, Antonio Maria (3 January 2020). "Will Venezuela's 'Operation Scorpion' sting Guaidó in Sunday's key election?". Miami Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Luis Parra aclaró los motivos de su viaje a países europeos en abril junto con otros diputados". El Nacional (in Spanish). 4 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  27. ^ a b Pitazo, Redacción El (23 December 2019). "CLAVES | Luis Parra: la bisagra en el mecanismo de traición a Guaidó". El Pitazo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  28. ^ Vidal, Pepe Gil (18 December 2019). "Venezuela: ¿qué es la Operación Alacrán?". Por CNN Radio Argentina. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  29. ^ a b Deniz, Roberto (3 March 2024). "El nuevo 'crack' del chavismo: Jorge Giménez golea a Alex Saab en los CLAP y Pdvsa". Armando.Info (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  30. ^ Guerrero, Isabel (22 July 2018). "El monopolio oficial del cacao venezolano comienza en Miranda". Armando.Info (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  31. ^ Moleiro, Alonso (3 September 2018). "Maduro silencia a los medios digitales en Venezuela". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  32. ^ "Cuatro periodistas huyen de Caracas y se unen al exilio venezolano". El Mundo (in Spanish). España. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  33. ^ Martín, Sabrina (12 September 2018). "Venezuela: Alex Saab, el nombre que la dictadura quiere borrar de la prensa". Panam Post. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
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