The move also regarded the Italian government’s allegedly “disproportionate reaction” to a Russian foreign ministry list of figures to have made alleged statements of “hate speech” against Russia that included President Sergio Mattarella, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto.
The Russian ambassador to Rome was summoned by the Italian government last week over the list and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned it.
“Italy has firmly chosen to stand by Ukraine in the face of the brutal war of aggression unleashed by Russia, three years ago now, and continues to pledge its support to the Ukrainian people in their heroic resistance,” Meloni said in a statement.
“The Foreign Ministry’s publication of a list of alleged ‘Russophobes’, accused of ‘inciting hatred’ against Russia, is nothing more than yet another propaganda operation, aimed at diverting attention from Moscow’s serious responsibilities, which are well known to the international community and which the international community has condemned from the beginning.
“I would like to express my solidarity to President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, Ministers Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto and all those who were the recipients of this unacceptable provocation.”
Mattarella has been targeted especially hard with heavy flak from Moscow after he compared Russia to the Nazi Third Reich in relation to its invasion of Ukraine in a speech at the University of Marseilles in February.
ANSA
