The Italian government has decided to expel two military attachés from the Russian Embassy in Italy after they were allegedly involved in espionage activities uncovered during an investigation by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Russian Ambassador in Rome that Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov must leave Italy within three days.
“Russia continues to use hybrid weapons to attack the West and Italy. This represents a serious and unacceptable interference with Italian institutions and national security,” Tajani wrote.
The decision comes amid growing concerns among European countries over alleged Russian intelligence operations and attempts to influence or undermine national security structures.
