by InTrieste
Venezuela has released two Italian citizens who had been detained in Caracas for more than a year, Italy’s prime minister announced Monday, marking the end of a prolonged and closely watched diplomatic episode.
Alberto Trentini, a 46‑year‑old humanitarian worker from Venice, and Mario Burlò, a 52‑year‑old entrepreneur from Turin, were freed late Sunday and are now at the Italian Embassy in Caracas, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement. A government flight from Rome was en route to repatriate the men.
Trentini, who had been detained for 423 days, was arrested in November 2024 while working in Venezuela for the international aid organization Humanity & Inclusion, which provides assistance to people with disabilities. Venezuelan authorities never publicly filed formal charges against him, and his case drew sustained attention from his family and Italian officials.
Burlò was also arrested in November 2024 during a visit to explore potential business opportunities, according to Italian news reports. Like Trentini, he was held at El Rodeo I, a maximum‑security facility in the Venezuelan capital.
In a brief statement, Meloni said she welcomed the release with “joy and satisfaction” and expressed gratitude to Venezuelan authorities, including interim President Delcy Rodríguez, for what she called “constructive cooperation” in recent days. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also confirmed on social media that both men were in good condition at the embassy and expected to return to Italy soon.
The releases come amid a broader pledge by Venezuelan authorities earlier this month to free a substantial number of prisoners, including foreign nationals, in what Caracas described as a gesture of goodwill. That announcement followed heightened international pressure and significant political upheaval in the country, including the ousting and capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, a move that drew global scrutiny.
Last week, two other Italians — journalist Biagio Pilieri and businessman Luigi Gasperin — were also released from Venezuelan detention after lengthy incarcerations.
Trentini’s family issued a statement saying they had awaited the news for more than 400 days and thanked those who had worked “even in invisibility” to secure his freedom. They asked for privacy in the coming period as they and Trentini recover from their ordeal.
FVG’s Governor Massimiliano Fedriga described the development as “a success for the government and for diplomatic efforts,” expressing hope for a democratic transition in Venezuela after years under an authoritarian regime. “I’m frankly puzzled by protests here from some on the extremes who oppose intervention,” he added, arguing that in the face of a dictator who “starves his own people and tortures dissidents,” decisive action was necessary.
