Russia Expels Italian Diplomats Amid Espionage Tensions
In a significant diplomatic escalation, Russia expelled two Italian military attachés on Monday, marking a direct response to Italy's earlier expulsion of two Russian diplomats accused of espionage. This diplomatic spat began when Italy expelled Russian military attachés Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov, who were alleged to have overseen a spying operation against the Italian government from within the Russian embassy. The situation intensified following an investigation that led to the arrest of two former Italian intelligence officers for leaking classified information to the expelled Russian officials.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had previously warned that Moscow would respond appropriately to the expulsion of its diplomats. This warning materialized with the expulsion of Italian military attaché Davide D’Aprile and Assistant Defense Attaché Vittorio Parrella, who were declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave Russia along with their families. The Russian Ministry's statement emphasized that hostile actions against its diplomats would not go unanswered.
In response, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the expulsions as unjustified retaliation for Italy's actions against the Russian diplomats. He characterized the expulsions as a blatant act of revenge for Italy's decision to expel the two Russian officials, who were reportedly caught engaging in espionage activities detrimental to Italy's national security.
Italian Senator Maurizio Gasparri also criticized the expulsion, expressing solidarity with the affected attachés and highlighting that while Italy acted against Russian spies, the expelled Italian officials were individuals of integrity. He noted that the Russian response reflects an intolerable attitude towards Italy's legitimate national security measures.
The espionage case has drawn significant attention, with Italian prosecutors launching an extensive investigation in 2025. The investigation revealed that Gorbachev and Astakhov had maintained ongoing communications with former Italian intelligence officers, who were allegedly soliciting classified information in exchange for financial compensation. The retired intelligence officials, identified as Gavino Raoul Piras and Vincenzo di Pasquale, are both 59 years old and have been described in Italian media as having significant intelligence backgrounds.
In addition to the two retired officials, five other unnamed suspects, including active-duty military personnel, are under investigation for their roles in leaking classified information to the Russian diplomats. Tajani has previously stated that Moscow's actions represent serious interference in Italy's national security and institutional integrity, underscoring the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
