Overview

• The 82-year-old was held near a Hugo Chávez statue in Sabaneta during filming for Channel 5’s Michael Palin in Venezuela.
• Members of the Bolivarian Militia searched clothing and bags, seizing passports, cameras, and other equipment during hours of questioning.
• A militiaman recognized Palin after finding Monty Python videos on his phone, prompting apologies, photos, and even a meal before release.
• Palin and his crew were freed and continued their shoot, with the documentary slated to air in the UK in late September.
• Reports place the episode within tightened controls on journalism in Venezuela, with the militia described as a fifth branch tasked with internal order and public patrols.