(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government is working for the release from prison in Venezuela of Alberto Trentini and has asked for a consular visit to the 45-year-old aid worker, foreign minister Antonio Tajani to Sky Tg24 on Friday.
“Yesterday evening, another Italo-Venezuelan citizen was freed from jail. There are seven Italo-Venezuelan and one Italian citizen in prison in Venezeula. We are working to get them all released,” Tajani said.
Negotiations are complicated by Venezuela’s expulsion of most Italian diplomats and its scaling back of Venezuelan diplomats in Italy, Tajani noted.
“We have received assurances from Venezuela’s embassy that the prisoner (Trentini) is in good health. We have requested a consular visit and his (Trentini’s) release as well as that of all the others,” said Tajani.
Trentini, who is the the northeastern Veneto region, has been detained without charge in Venezuela since 15 November.
This week his parents urged robust efforts from Rome for his release.
Over 31,000 people have signed a petition launched on 14 January on change.org calling on Venezuela’s authorities to free Trentini immediately.
