Agencies-Gaza post
West accuses Russia of interfering in Italy’s elections
Washington’s scenario of accusing Russia of interfering in the election of former United States President Donald Trump was repeated in Rome, with the West accusing Russia of interfering in the elections in Italy, while Moscow strongly rejects these accusations.
Russia announced on Friday its rejection of “bizarre” accusations of Moscow interfering in Italy’s elections after Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, was invited to provide clarifications on contacts between the Russian embassy and those close to it before the crisis that led to the fall of Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, “It is strange to see that the political class and the Italian media, she began to be guided by outsiders in mimicking her worst practices and campaign models “and resorted to the” vulgar myth about Moscow’s interference in electoral processes.”
Zakharova said in a press statement on Telegram that Russia views “Italy as a sovereign State with an independent domestic and foreign policy”, stressing that for this reason “relations between Russia and Italy have always been characterized by pragmatism, mutual understanding, and respect.”
Mario Draghi’s national unity government fell on July 14 when the League and Forward parties Italy (Forza Italia-Yemen) and the 5-Star Movement (populists) refused to participate in a vote of confidence in Parliament.
A diplomat at the Russian embassy met an assistant close to Matteo Salvini in Rome at the end of May and discussed the political situation with him.
The meeting occurred when Salvini was accused of following parallel diplomacy with the Russian Embassy formally to work on a peace plan between Moscow and Kyiv, without the Italian government’s knowledge.
Many politicians asked Salvini for clarification after this information was published.
Relations between Matteo Salvini and Moscow have been constantly controversial, particularly since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine despite the possibility that this could upset his allies in “Forward Italy” and “Brothers of Italy” (national right) in the campaign for legislative elections on September 25.
