The Italian government has decided to expel two military attachés from the Embassy of the Russian Federation. The diplomats are accused of involvement in espionage activities uncovered during an investigation by the Rome prosecutor's office.

Decision made amidst arrests

This move by the Italian side is a reaction to events that occurred this week. In Rome, two former Italian intelligence officers were arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. These events served as the catalyst for taking countermeasures against Russian diplomats.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani officially confirmed the information. According to him, the Secretary-General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian Ambassador in Rome and handed over the names of the individuals subject to expulsion.

Names and deadlines

The list of diplomats required to leave the country includes:

  • Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev;
  • Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov.

The deadline for their departure from Rome is strict — three days.

Assessment of the situation in Rome

Antonio Tajani gave a harsh assessment of Moscow's actions. In the Deputy Prime Minister's view, Russia continues to use so-called "hybrid weapons" to attack the West and Italy in particular. Tajani called this a serious and unacceptable interference in the work of Italian state institutions and a threat to national security.

Moscow's reaction and context

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already reacted to Rome's decision. As reported by the RIA Novosti agency, Moscow intends to respond to the expulsion of attachés with corresponding measures.

This incident fits into the broader picture of increased Russian intelligence activity in Europe since the start of the full-scale invasion. According to the Lithuanian Security Department, in recent years, European countries have expelled more than 400 Russian intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover. Previously, for example, in Austria, former local intelligence officer Egidio Otta was convicted of spying for the Kremlin between 2015 and 2020.