
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.
'Israel has the right to continue its attacks,' Lebanese Foreign Minister announces
Ford Is Using a Chinese-Built Van to Fight Europe’s EV Price War
Kaiser Permanente affiliates to pay $556 million to resolve US claims alleging Medicare fraud
Air Force made critical errors during October 7 massacre, investigator says
IDF destroys regime's missile, sea mine production site in Yazd amid nationwide airstrikes
Syrian army says recent drone attacks targeted its bases near Iraq, most shot down
Find the Historical backdrop of the Modern Unrest: Changing Society and Innovation
Israel and Iran continue tit-for-tat attacks
What is the Insurrection Act? Can Trump really use the military to 'put an end' to Minneapolis ICE protests?













