Italy rejects extradition of Venezuela's ex-oil minister, says lawyer

FILE PHOTO: Former Venezuela's Oil and Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez gestures as he speaks during an interview with Reuters at an undisclosed location, December 20, 2019. Picture taken December 20, 2019. REUTERS/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Italy has rejected a request by Venezuela for the extradition of Rafael Ramirez, a once powerful oil minister and former head of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, his lawyer said on Saturday.

Authorities in Venezuela had asked Interpol to locate and arrest Ramirez in 2018 and subsequently demanded his extradition from Italy in 2020 in connection with embezzlement charges.