PM: Italy won’t be intimidated by Kremlin’s political hit list

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has firmly rejected what he described as a politically motivated “blacklist” compiled by Russia’s Foreign Ministry and dismissed accusations of Russophobia directed at Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Speaking to La Repubblica, Tajani said: “I have never liked any kind of ‘blacklist’. It is unacceptable — an insult to the entire Italian people. And, of course, we will not allow ourselves to be intimidated by a list drawn up by the Russian Foreign Ministry.”

The Russian government had reportedly placed a number of European officials, including Mattarella, on a list of individuals deemed to be hostile to Moscow.

Tajani stressed that Italy had never declared itself to be “at war with Russia” and reiterated Rome’s consistent stance on the issue.

“Our position is very clear, and we reject these accusations because they are baseless,” the foreign minister said.

To recall, on July 30, the Italian government summoned the Russian ambassador to formally protest Moscow’s decision to include Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella on a list of Western leaders accused by Russia of “Russophobia.”

The list, published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on July 24, targets Western political figures whom Moscow accuses of promoting “hate speech” against Russia.

Mattarella was singled out for a speech he delivered at Aix-Marseille University in February, where he likened Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine to the expansionist wars waged by Nazi Germany.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the list as a “propaganda operation,” stating: “Publishing a list of so-called 'Russophobes' who supposedly incite hatred against Russia is yet another propaganda operation.” 

By Aghakazim Guliyev