Italy expels two Russian Embassy staff members suspected of spying
Italy has expelled two military attachés from the Russian Embassy in Rome over their alleged involvement in a spy operation under investigation by Rome prosecutors, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced.
Tajani said the Foreign Ministry had notified the Russian ambassador in Rome that “Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov must leave the country within three days.”
“Moscow continues to use hybrid tactics to attack the West and Italy. This is a serious and unacceptable act of interference against Italy’s institutions and national security,” Tajani wrote.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated it would give an “appropriate response” to Italy’s decision.
On July 7, Rome prosecutors announced the detention of two former Italian intelligence officers suspected of passing classified national security information to an alleged Russian intelligence agent who holds diplomatic immunity in Italy.
According to investigators, the Russian agent was in contact with Gavino Raoul Piras, 59, a native of Sardinia, and Vincenzo Di Pasquale, 59, a native of Matera — both former Italian intelligence officers. Five other suspects are named in the case, including four military personnel suspected of gathering information related to state security, political or military espionage, and disclosure of state secrets.
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