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Russia denies interfering in Italy's elections

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Russia denies interfering in Italy's elections
The Russian Embassy in Rome. Italian media reports have suggested a meeting took place in May between a Russian diplomat and an aide of anti-immigrant leader Matteo Salvini. Photo: Andreas SOLARO / AFP

Russia on Friday rejected what it claimed were "bizarre" accusations of interference in Italy's election campaign, after anti-immigrant leader Matteo Salvini's ties with Moscow came under scrutiny.

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"It is bizarre to see the Italian political class and media" resorting to the "trite myth about Moscow's interference in electoral processes", said Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

On Thursday Italy's La Stampa newspaper reported that a diplomat at the Russian embassy met one of Salvini's aides in late May in Rome to discuss the political landscape.

The meeting took place at a time when Salvini was accused of conducting parallel diplomacy with the Russian embassy, officially to work on a peace plan between Moscow and Kyiv, without the knowledge of the Italian government.

READ ALSO: Italy’s Salvini questioned over Russia ties ahead of election campaign

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The League pulled out of the government this month, alongside Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and the populist Five Star Movement, causing Mario Draghi to resign as prime minister and triggering September elections.

Zakharova stressed, on the Telegram messaging app, that Russia considers Italy to be "a sovereign country that pursues an independent internal and external policy".

For this reason, "relations between Russia and Italy have always been characterised by pragmatism, mutual understanding and respect", the spokeswoman added.

Many politicians demanded an explanation from Salvini after the revelations in La Stampa.

Salvini has long admired President Vladimir Putin, even wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the Russian leader's face.

His links with Moscow have been a regular source of controversy, particularly since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and could hamper the anti-migrant League and its right-wing allies Forza Italia and Fratelli d'Italia in the campaign leading up to the September 25th legislative elections.

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