
Oil tycoon Wilmer Ruperti showed up for a meeting with Venezuela’s intelligence agency last Thursday. A week later, he’s still in custody, one of his lawyers told Semafor.
“We’ve reached out to everybody trying to get proof of life or some support,” Winston & Strawn’s Cari Stinebower said, adding that officials still haven’t conveyed “how he’s being treated or why he’s being detained.”
Ruperti, who arrived at the meeting with a security detail, is a Venezuelan Italian shipping magnate who trades in petroleum coke. His detainment followed interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s decision to elevate the agency’s longtime chief to defense minister.
“The message is that Venezuela is open for business — but detaining businessmen for days on end without any due process or access to counsel is more old regime,” Stinebower said. “This is not law and order and not conducive of a welcoming business environment.”
The State Department and Energy Department did not respond to requests for comment.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Putin critic gets six years in penal colony, vows hunger strike - 2
Inside Plan with Houseplants: An Aide - 3
Humpback whale stranded on Germany's Baltic coast frees itself - 4
UN experts urge investigation into Israel’s killing of Lebanese journalists - 5
$2,000 tariff rebate checks? 50-year mortgages? Making sense of Trump's new 'affordability' proposals.
Vote in favor of Your Number one Smartwatch: Exactness and Style Matter
NASA troubleshoots Artemis II toilet problem in otherwise smooth flight
Eight wounded, cars catch fire in central Israel following strike from Iranian cluster munition
Favored Organic product for Seniors' Prosperity: Make Your Determination
Von der Leyen: Paris meeting sends signal of unity for Ukraine
6 Top of the line Lodgings All over The Planet, Which One Do You Concur With
Astronomers detect rare 'free floating' exoplanet 10,000 light-years from Earth
Flu season is just beginning, but doctors are already on high alert
Figure out how to Amplify Your Open Record Reward













