Italy expels two Russian military attachés over a spying scandal
This was reported by Reuters, citing Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
According to Tajani, the Italian government has decided to expel two military attachés from the Russian Embassy who are believed to be involved in espionage activities on behalf of Moscow.
The Secretary-General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already informed the Russian ambassador in Rome that the diplomats must leave the country within three days. According to ‘European Truth’, the individuals in question are Ivan Gorbachev and Mikhail Astakhov.
What happened before the expulsion
Rome’s decision is linked to a case of alleged espionage on behalf of Russia. Earlier, two people were detained in Italy on suspicion of passing classified information to a Russian agent.
According to the Italian public prosecutor’s office, the main figure in the case is a former Carabinieri officer. Investigators believe he may have received money for passing on information he had gathered through his own sources. In addition to the two detainees, five other individuals are under investigation in connection with the case.
ANSA reports that four serving military personnel are among those under investigation. This is what makes the case particularly sensitive for Italian security, as it involves not only a diplomatic scandal but also potential access to military information.
How Tajani reacted
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described Russia’s actions as a serious and unacceptable interference. According to him, Moscow continues to use ‘hybrid tools’ against Italy and the West as a whole.
Tajani also stated that this constitutes a threat to Italy’s national security. Following Moscow’s statements about a possible response, he added that, according to the Italian side, the expelled Russian representatives had been engaged in espionage against the country’s security.
What Russia says
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Moscow would respond to Italy’s decision. The Russian side did not specify what form that response would take.
The Russian Ambassador to Italy, Alexei Paramonov, also criticised Rome’s decision. At the same time, the Italian side insists that this is not a political gesture, but a reaction to a specific espionage investigation.
Italy is a member of NATO and one of Ukraine’s key partners in Europe. Therefore, suspicions regarding the transfer of classified information to a Russian agent are significant not only for Rome but also for the wider security of the Alliance.
This is not the first espionage scandal between Italy and Russia in recent years. In 2021, Navy Captain Walter Biota was arrested in Italy whilst handing over documents to a staff member at the Russian embassy. He was subsequently sentenced to nearly 30 years’ imprisonment.
Following the expulsion of Russian military attachés, Italy is bracing for a possible diplomatic response from Moscow. Meanwhile, the domestic investigation is ongoing: investigators must establish exactly what information may have been passed on, who was involved in the network of contacts, and whether any of the sources had access to military data.
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