Overview

• The Farnesina named Luigi Vignali special envoy to negotiate the liberation of roughly fifteen Italians held in Venezuelan prisons.
• Humanitarian minister Edmondo Cirelli hailed Alberto Trentini’s second phone call with his mother on July 26 as evidence of renewed consular access.
• Caracas has freed at least 102 detainees since July 18 and promised additional releases by the end of August in a possible exchange for economic concessions.
• Potential bargaining chips include renewal of Chevron’s Venezuelan extraction license to secure further transfers of Italian prisoners home.
• Italy’s envoy will focus on detainees such as Americo De Grazia and Biagio Pilieri, held in isolation at El Helicoide, with reports citing health risks and harsh conditions.