Italy expels two Russian embassy military attachés over espionage

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said the Italian government decided on 9 July to expel two military attachés from the Russian embassy in Rome over espionage activities carried out on behalf of Moscow.

Source: Tajani on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The secretary general of Italy's Foreign Ministry informed the Russian ambassador in Rome that the two attachés, Ivan Gorbachev and Mikhail Astakhov, must leave Italy within three days.

The government decided to expel the two Russian embassy military attachés who were responsible for espionage activities uncovered during an investigation by the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office.

Quote: "Moscow continues to use its hybrid weapons to attack the West and Italy. This constitutes a serious and unacceptable interference in Italian institutions and national security."

Details: The decision to expel the attachés came after two former Italian intelligence officers were arrested in Rome on suspicion of spying for Russia. They are believed to have passed classified information to a suspected Russian intelligence operative who enjoys diplomatic immunity in Italy.

Background: Last week, two people – Chinese and Malaysian nationals – were detained in Sweden on suspicion of espionage.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.