
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
Under pressure at home, Belgium's leader treads a tight rope with EU partners over funds for Ukraine - 2
Best Amusement Park Bite: What Do You Very much want to Crunch On? - 3
What's your biological age? Experts explain the benefits and risks of at-home tests - 4
US FDA panel to weigh bid to market nicotine pouches as lower-risk than cigarettes - 5
The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch
St George Mining hits record 178m high-grade intercept at Araxá, reinforcing global scale
Norovirus infections increase significantly, with positive test rates reaching 14%
AI’s errors may be impossible to eliminate – what that means for its use in health care
Former biotech CEO sued over COVID vaccine alleged insider trading
Why home maintenance deserves a spot in the annual health and budget plans
Pilot captures jaw-dropping northern lights show from 36,000 feet (photos)
Evidence of lost baptismal rite stage uncovered in Byzantine era cathedral near Sea of Galilee
7 Strange Devices to Make Your Party Stick Out!
Former United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno joins competitor Blue Origin for national security projects













