(Adnkronos) – While all Italian citizens who only have an Italian passport have been released from jails in Venezuela, a total 42 Italian-Venezuelans are still in prison there, almost half of whom are political prisoners, Italy said on Monday.
“We still have 42 Italian-Venezuelan detainees; those who only hold Italian passports are all out,” Tajani told reporters at the foreign ministry.
The press conference follows an announcement Monday on X by Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni that Venezuelan authorities had freed jailed Italian charity worker Alberto Trentini and businessman Mario Burlo.
The release of Trentini and Burlo, who were imprisoned in Venezuela for over a year with charge, came after 77-year-old Luigi Gasperin and journalist Biagio Pilieri were freed on Friday after spending six months and 16 months respectively in jail.
Gasperin and Pilieri were freed on Friday when Venezuela’s interim leadership said it would release a significant number of prisoners including foreign nationals, as a gesture of good will.
Gasperin was detained in August for allegedly transporting explosives, while Pilieri was arrested in August 2024,accused of terrorism and of being a traitor.
