Italy Summons Russian Ambassador Over President Mattarella on Kremlin's 'Russophobe' List

Italy has summoned the Russian Ambassador in Rome to protest the inclusion of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and other senior officials on a Russian Foreign Ministry list labeling them as Russophobes, which Moscow uses to identify and discredit critics of Russia. The list cites a February 5, 2025, speech by Mattarella at the University of Marseille, where he compared Russia's aggression against Ukraine to the Third Reich's wars of conquest. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the move as a deliberate provocation against Italy and expressed solidarity with President Mattarella. The list also includes statements from leaders of 13 countries, the EU, and NATO, highlighting a broader Russian strategy to stigmatize dissenting Western voices. This diplomatic action follows public backlash in Italy against Russian influence, exemplified by the cancellation of a performance by Kremlin supporter Valery Gergiev. The Italian government is actively challenging Russia's narrative by summoning the ambassador and publicly denouncing the list as offensive to the Italian Republic and people.