Italy expels two Russian embassy military attachés

Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy has decided to expel two military attachés from the Russian Embassy in Rome.

In a post on X, Tajani said the decision was taken over alleged espionage activities uncovered during an investigation by the Rome Prosecutor's Office.

"The Italian government has decided to expel two military attachés from the Russian Embassy in Italy who are responsible for espionage activities uncovered during the Rome Prosecutor's Office investigation. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just informed the Russian ambassador in Rome that Ivan Petrovich Gorbachov and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov must leave Rome within three days," he wrote.

Tajani added that "Moscow continues to use its hybrid tools to carry out attacks against the West and Italy."

"This constitutes a serious and unacceptable interference in Italy's institutions and national security," he said.