Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, after learning that on 2 April the Venezuelan MP Mariela Magallanes, who is also an Italian citizen, had her passport confiscated and was stopped from departing at Caracas airport after being held in police custody, expresses great concern and the firm condemnation for this patent violation of parliamentary immunity.
The Foreign Ministry expects that the freedom of movement of Ms Magallanes, who has been imposed a travel ban from her Country, be immediately restored and that all the members of Venezuelan National Assembly have their rights fully respected. Episodes such as this do not contribute to overcoming the strong internal contrasts, which is necessary to expedite the peaceful, democratic and inclusive solution thereof, as hoped for by Italy, the European Union and the International Contact Group.
Today, the Venezuelan Ambassador in Rome, Isaias Rodriguez, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to hear his explanation of the facts.
