Request to release Bertulazzi in Argentina denied

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 31 - An Argentinian court has rejected a request to release from prison former Red Brigades (BR) fugitive Leonardo Bertulazzi presented by his defense attorneys following his arrest this week, sources from the tribunal overseeing the case have told ANSA.
    The decision was taken by Judge Maria Romilda Servini de Cubria at the end of a hearing held on Friday during which the arrest was officially confirmed.
    Red Brigades (BR) fugitive Bertulazzi, who was arrested Thursday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after being wanted by Italian judicial authorities for four decades, is detained under a special regime and not in a common prison, well-informed sources told ANSA.
    Bertulazzi will be extradited to Italy after the refugee status he had obtained in 2004 was revoked.
    He must serve a 27-year prison term in Italy after being convicted on charges of abduction, subversive association and belonging to an armed group.
    A fugitive since 1980, he was responsible for the abduction of engineer Piero Costa in Genoa in 1977 as a member of the Red Brigades (BR) terrorist group.
    The office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni late on Thursday expressed "deep appreciation" to Argentinian authorities for carrying out Bertulazzi's arrest, "already sentenced in Italy to 27 years in prison for crimes of terrorism, after his status of refugee was revoked by the Argentinian Refugee Commission", according to a statement. (ANSA).