Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has confirmed that Luigi Gasperin, a 77‑year‑old Italian entrepreneur long held in Venezuela, has been released and is now safe at the Italian Embassy in Caracas. The announcement was made on social media, where Tajani said that Gasperin’s prison release order - previously obtained but not executed - was finally implemented overnight.
Gasperin, originally from the Piedmont region of Italy, had been detained in Maturín, Monagas since August 2025, after authorities discovered explosive materials at the premises of his company, Técnica Petrolera WLP, which operated in the oilfield services sector.
The Italian Foreign Ministry (Farnesina) described him as physically worn but stable and reported that he expressed a wish to remain in Venezuela for the time being and return to Maturín, where his business is based. His release follows the earlier freeing of other Italian nationals held in the country, reflecting ongoing diplomatic efforts by Rome.