Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed “strange” accusations of meddling in Italy’s elections after Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, was invited to clarify contacts between the Russian embassy and those close to him before the crisis, leading to the crisis. to the fall of Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Zakharova considers it “strange to see that the Italian political class and the media have begun to look to third parties in imitation of their worst practices and campaign models and resort to the vulgar myth of Moscow’s interference in the electoral processes.” She noted that “Russia regards Italy as a sovereign country and pursues an independent domestic and foreign policy”, emphasizing that “for this reason, relations between Russia and Italy have always been distinguished by pragmatism, mutual understanding and respect.”

The Government of National Unity led by Mario Draghi fell on July 14 when the League, Forza Italia (Forza Italia – on the right) and the 5 Star Movement (populists) refused to participate in a vote of confidence in Parliament.

La Stampa (a centre-right) newspaper reported Thursday that “a diplomat working at the Russian embassy met in Rome at the end of May with a close aide of Matteo Salvini and discussed the political situation with him.” And “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.”

A large number of politicians asked Salvini for clarification after the publication of this information.