Russian Foreign Ministry Calls Italian Charge d'Affaires to Warn Against Hostile Actions

The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Italian charge d'affaires, Giovanni Scopa, to express its discontent with Italy's decision to expel a Russian military attaché and his deputy, calling the move 'unfounded'. The Ministry warned that any hostile action against Russian diplomats will not go unanswered. In a statement published on the Ministry's website, it was stated that on July 20, the Italian side had requested the Russian military attaché and his deputy to leave Italian territory without any valid reason. The statement also described the Italian move as 'an unfriendly act' and recalled that two Italian embassy staff members had recently been declared 'persona non grata' by Russia.