Payam Javan: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has imposed a 10-day block on the social media platform X, citing accusations of incitement and violations of network rules. The action follows a series of disputes with X owner Elon Musk, who has criticized Maduro as a dictator and alleged major election fraud. The block affects both private and state-run telephone networks in Venezuela. This decision comes amid controversy surrounding the recent presidential election, where opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez claimed victory despite Maduro’s announcement of his own win. Protests erupted in response, with demonstrators challenging the official results and calling for political change.

In his public remarks, Maduro has accused X of fueling unrest and threatening his supporters and government officials. The Venezuelan Electoral Council has yet to release final vote tallies from the July 28 election, further fueling skepticism and unrest. Despite possessing vast oil reserves, Venezuela’s ongoing economic crisis has worsened under Maduro, with high poverty rates and a declining economy. The conflict with Musk and the media blockade underscore the broader struggles facing Maduro’s government and its handling of both domestic and international criticism.