Many Italian politicians have maintained warm relations with Russia. Matteo Salvini, the country’s right-wing populist leader, opposes arms exports to Ukraine and Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership.
5.6. 10:18 • Updated June 5th. 10:49
ROME On the first Sunday evening in May, the Russian commercial TV channel Rete4 broadcast live the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovin interview. In a program called Zona Bianca, Lavrov was allowed to speak to Italian television audiences about Kremlin propaganda for 42 minutes.
In an interview, Lavrov reiterated Russia’s claim that the attack on Ukraine was “to cleanse Ukraine of the Nazis.”
He then answered a question from the presenter on how Russia can talk about an anti-Nazi operation in Ukraine when the president Volodymyr Zelenskyi himself is a Jew.
– Also With Hitler there was Jewish blood, meaning it means nothing, Lavrov commented.
– What Lavrov said is misleading. In particular, the section where he refers to Hitler is really lewd, Draghi commented according to Italian news agency Ansa.
Propaganda even on broadcaster channels
Foreign Minister Lavrov is not the only guest to have spread Russian propaganda on Italian television programs in recent months. Pro-Russia commentators as well as Russian journalists and politicians have appeared on the country’s commercial and also on the broadcaster Rain’s channels for this.
Journalists working for the Russian state news agency Sputnik, for example, have appeared on commercial channels.
After the uproar caused by Lavrov’s TV interview, the body that already supervises the broadcaster is already reacting to the situation. It made by the Italian state (moving to another service) security body Copasir’s request for an inquiry into whether the people on television work for the Russian administration. A committee was set up in the Italian Parliament in early May to look into the matter.
The Rete4 channel, which aired Lavrov’s interview, is part of the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconin owned by Mediaset. The company has asserted that Berlusconi was unaware of Lavrov’s interview.
Lavrov was interviewed by a popular presenter Giuseppe Brindisi. In an interview with , he says that Italian television gives a wide range of voices to all parties. He argues that the program constantly invites pro-Russia parties as well.
– I do not know whether in this way space will be given to Russian propaganda or Russian commentators in this way. I think it is enriching for those Italians who sit at the television and want to understand the war to hear the Russian side on the matter, Brindisi says.
Historically warm relationships
Director of the Rome Foreign Policy Institute Nathalie Tocci belongs to a group of political experts whose members no longer visit Russian propaganda programs.
Tocci lists several reasons for the rapid spread of Russian propaganda in Italy.
– Italy traditionally does not have very strong foreign policy expertise. It is perhaps the first time in decades that foreign policy expertise is needed in the media every day.
An even more important reason, however, is to be found between the historically warm intervals between Italy and Russia, says Tocci.
– Cultural and social relations and close economic ties have kept the countries close.
Italian and Russian political parties and politicians have historically had good distances. The Italian Communist Party (PCI) was the largest communist party in Western Europe, and worked closely with the Soviet Union for many decades after World War II.
Salvini opposes Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership
The Italian right has maintained relations with Russia in recent decades. For example, long-time Prime Minister Berlusconi and leader of the right-wing populist La Lega party Matteo Salvini have shown sympathy for Russia and President Putin.
During the war, Italian Prime Minister Draghi has taken a clear stand on behalf of Ukraine. When meeting with the Prime Minister Sanna Marinin In Rome in mid-May, Draghi also promised to support Finland’s application for NATO membership.
According to Tocc, Italy is a fertile ground for Russian propaganda, and Russia has been able to take advantage of this.
– Relationships with the business world, politicians and also the media have been massaged. This is how their false news gets through.
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