# Former Red Brigades Member Bertulazzi Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires Convicted terrorist flees custody in Argentina just before his scheduled extradition to Italy. - **Source:** [Open](https://www.open.online) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [world](https://brifing.si/c/world) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/dbf2b197-5b59-439e-94bc-a75b8f297f1d ## Fugitive Escapes House Arrest Leonardo Bertulazzi, a 74-year-old former member of the Red Brigades, has escaped from house arrest in central Buenos Aires. Argentine authorities have issued an urgent national manhunt alert after he vanished from his residence. His lawyer confirmed the disappearance, which occurred shortly after legal avenues to block his extradition were exhausted. ## Imminent Extradition Process Halted The escape occurred just as the legal process for his transfer to Italy reached its final stage. The Argentine Supreme Court had approved his extradition in July 2025, and his lawyer, Rodolfo Yanzon, had recently seen his final appeal rejected. Interpol was reportedly prepared to take custody of him for immediate transport. ## Criminal History and Convictions Bertulazzi was definitively sentenced to 27 years in prison for armed insurrection and the 1977 kidnapping of Genoese businessman Pietro Costa. During the 1970s, he was a key figure in the Red Brigades' Genoa column. He had remained a fugitive for 44 years before his initial arrest in Argentina in 2024. ## Funding the Moro Kidnapping The ransom paid for Pietro Costa’s release, totaling one billion lire, played a dark role in Italian history. The Red Brigades used these funds to purchase the apartment on Via Montalcini in Rome. This specific location later served as the prison where the group held and eventually murdered politician Aldo Moro. ## Decades of Legal Maneuvering Bertulazzi’s legal battle spanned decades, beginning with an arrest in 2002. At that time, an Argentine court released him because the country did not permit extradition for individuals convicted in absentia. He subsequently lived in South America as a political refugee until Argentina revoked that status in 2024. ## Failed Surveillance Measures Despite being under house arrest with an electronic monitoring bracelet, Bertulazzi managed to evade his guards. He was supposed to be under 24-hour surveillance by a Federal Police patrol. His release from prison to home confinement in August 2025 had been granted due to his advanced age and health issues. ## Geopolitical Legal Challenges The case highlights the complexities of international extradition involving historical terrorism cases. Argentina’s shift in policy, moving from granting refugee status to approving extradition, reflects changing judicial priorities. The recent revocation of his refugee status was the critical turning point that finally paved the way for his potential return to Italy. ## Current Security Implications The disappearance of such a high-profile figure creates a significant diplomatic and security challenge for both nations. With the national manhunt underway, authorities are focused on preventing him from crossing borders. The incident underscores the persistent difficulty in bringing long-term fugitives to justice after decades of living in exile. ## Sources covering this story - [Il Sole 24 Ore – Italia — Former Red Brigades Member Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/l-ex-br-leonardo-bertulazzi-scappa-domiciliari-buenos-aires-AJ0PC7BC) - [Open — Former Red Brigades Member Leonardo Bertulazzi Escapes House Arrest in Argentina](https://www.open.online/2026/11/10/argentina-leonardo-bertulazzi-br-fuga-arresti-domiciliari/) - [Il Fatto Quotidiano — Former Red Brigades Member Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/11/10/bertulazzi-brigate-rosse-fuga-buenos-aires-notizie/8567580/) - [Rai News — Former Red Brigades Member Leonardo Bertulazzi Escapes House Arrest in Argentina](https://www.rainews.it/articoli/2026/11/lex-br-leonardo-bertulazzi-fugge-dai-domiciliari-a-buenos-aires-e-caccia-alluomo-6223bc09-4e0a-40fc-903e-1c462d7e4f59.html) - [La Nación — Red Brigades Fugitive Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/seguridad/quien-es-leonardo-bertulazzi-exmiembro-de-las-brigadas-rojas-italianas-que-estaba-preso-en-buenos-nid11112026/) - [Buenos Aires Times — Former Red Brigades Militant Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/former-italy-red-brigades-member-escapes-in-argentina-ahead-of-extradition.phtml) - [NOS – Buitenland — Former Red Brigades Member Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://nos.nl/l/2639071) - [El País – Internacional — Former Red Brigades Terrorist Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://elpais.com/internacional/2026-11-12/un-exterrorista-italiano-se-fuga-en-buenos-aires-descolgandose-de-un-quinto-piso-para-evitar-ser-extraditado.html) - [Buenos Aires Herald — Former Italian Guerrilla Member Escapes House Arrest in Buenos Aires](https://buenosairesherald.com/society/former-italian-guerrilla-member-escapes-house-arrest-in-buenos-aires) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._