Italy summons Russian ambassador over Kremlin’s Russophobia list
Photo: Italian Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador over "examples of Russophobia" (wikimedia.org)
Italy has summoned the Russian ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the country’s President and ministers were included in a Kremlin list with the "examples of Russophobia", The Guardian reports.
According to the outlet, the Italian Foreign Ministry called in Russia’s envoy to Rome, Alexei Paramonov, after statements made by Italy’s President, foreign minister, and defense minister were listed on a Russian government website as "examples of Russophobia."
The list, published last week, includes quotes from politicians in Bulgaria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, the EU, France, Germany, Greece, NATO, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, and the United States.
Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto were among those named on Russia’s list of "examples of Russophobia."
In his speech in Marseille, President Mattarella compared the sentiments behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the rise of Nazi Germany.
The ministry also stated that Tajani "considered the inclusion of the head of state on this list a provocation to the Republic and the Italian people."
Background
In February, Italian President Sergio Mattarella drew a parallel between Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the actions of the Third Reich.
He referred to the emergence of despotic and illiberal regimes that had led to an increasingly conflict-driven atmosphere, a preference for the logic of domination, and ultimately to "wars of aggression."
"This was the project of the Third Reich in Europe. The current Russian aggression against Ukraine is of this nature," he said.
