Trentini Is Detained, Consular Visit Requested Says Tajani

Rome: Italian NGO worker Alberto Trentini is detained in Venezuela, and Italy has requested a consular visit for him, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. This announcement came a day after summoning Venezuela’s charg© d’affaires to protest against the lack of information regarding the mid-November detention of the aid official.

According to Ansa News Agency, Tajani stated that Italy has been actively working since Trentini’s arrest in Venezuela. He noted that there are other Italian-Venezuelans currently in the country’s jails, estimating the number to be around eight. During the meeting with Venezuela’s charg© d’affaires, Italy reiterated the request for the release of their compatriot and all other political prisoners. The foreign minister confirmed that Trentini is indeed detained and has requested that he be treated according to the rules, alongside asking for a consular visit.

Tajani emphasized that Italy is exploring all avenues to resolve this situation. He also called for “discretion and moderation” in dealing with Trentini’s case, similar to previous requests made during the detentions of blogger Alessia Piperno and journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran.

Trentini’s family has expressed concern as they have not heard from him since his arrest at a roadblock while traveling to Guasdalito from Caracas on November 15. The young man, a Venice native who reportedly has a health condition, traveled to Venezuela on October 17 as part of a mission with the international NGO Humanity and Inclusion. Informal reports suggest that Trentini was transferred to Caracas a few days post-arrest and is currently detained there without having been officially charged.