Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Venezuela Releases Italian Prisoners, Upgrades Relations
Venezuela has released two Italian prisoners, Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlo, along with 114 other prisoners, as a goodwill gesture.
Trentini is a charity worker who was helping disabled people, and Burlo is a businessman.
They were both arrested in November 2024 and held in the same prison in Caracas.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is happy they are safe and thanked Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, for helping.
Two other Italians were freed last week.
A plane is on its way to bring Trentini and Burlo back to Italy.
Italy will upgrade its diplomatic relations with Venezuela, changing the status of its top envoy to a fully-fledged ambassador.
However, 42 dual Italian-Venezuelan nationals remain in prison, including 24 held for political reasons.
Venezuela released 116 prisoners, including Italians Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlo, on January 8, 2025.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced their release and thanked Venezuelan authorities, including interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
Trentini, a charity worker, was arrested in November 2024 while working for Humanity & Inclusion, and Burlo, a businessman, was also arrested in November 2024.
Two other Italian nationals, Biagio Pilieri and Luigi Gasperin, were freed last week, and no other citizens with solely Italian nationality remain in prison.
Italy will upgrade its diplomatic relations with Venezuela, changing the status of its top envoy to a fully-fledged ambassador, and 42 dual Italian-Venezuelan nationals, including 24 political prisoners, remain in prison.
- Who
- Alberto Trentini, Mario Burlo, Giorgia Meloni, Delcy Rodriguez, Antonio Tajani
- What
- Release of Italian prisoners and upgrade in diplomatic relations with Venezuela
- When
- January 8, 2025
- Where
- Caracas, Venezuela
- Why
- Gesture of goodwill and response to international demands, including after the U.S. attacked Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela's Goodwill Gesture
International Pressure and Criticism
Release of Prisoners
Venezuela's Goodwill Gesture
Venezuela released 116 prisoners, including Italians, as a goodwill gesture and to stabilize the nation.
International Pressure and Criticism
The releases came after international pressure, including demands from human rights groups and opposition figures.
Diplomatic Relations
Venezuela's Goodwill Gesture
Venezuela aims to improve international relations through these releases.
International Pressure and Criticism
Italy and other international bodies have criticized Venezuela's prolonged detention of foreign nationals.
- Prisoners Released
- Alberto Trentini, Mario Burlo, and 114 others
- Release Date
- January 8, 2025
- Italian Prime Minister
- Giorgia Meloni
- Interim Venezuelan President
- Delcy Rodriguez
- NGO Involved
- Humanity & Inclusion
- Prison Facility
- El Rodeo I, Caracas
- Other Italians Freed
- Biagio Pilieri and Luigi Gasperin
- Dual Citizens Held
- 42
- Political Prisoners Among Dual Citizens
- 24
Sources
Venezuela frees two more Italians, says Italian Prime Minister
Number of prisoners released in Venezuela rises to 41, says rights group
Italy to upgrade relations with Venezuela as two more Italians freed
Venezuela says it has released 116 prisoners
Venezuela says 116 prisoners released as rights group cites lower figure