Russia Expels Two Italian Diplomats in Tit-for-Tat Move Over Espionage Row
Moscow declares Italian defence attaché and embassy official persona non grata, giving them three days to leave, after Rome expelled two Russian military attachés accused of spying.
Russia declared two Italian diplomats persona non grata on 20 July, ordering them to leave the country within three days. The move, announced by the Russian foreign ministry after summoning Italy’s chargé d’affaires, targets the assistant defence attaché and an embassy attaché. Moscow described the expulsions as a reciprocal response to Rome’s earlier, what it termed unfounded, demand that three Russian military attachés leave Italy.
Russian officials frame the decision as a standard application of diplomatic reciprocity. The foreign ministry stated that “any hostile and provocative actions against Russian diplomats will not go without an appropriate response.” Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later clarified that the measure was a direct retaliation for Italy’s expulsion of two Russian military attachés on 9 July, rejecting Italian characterisations of the move as either baseless or an act of vengeance. Moscow maintains that the original Italian action lacked justification.
Italian authorities present a sharply different account. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the Russian expulsions “an act of blatant retaliation” without reason, contrasting it with Rome’s own decision, which he said was based on solid evidence. According to Italian officials, the two Russian attachés expelled earlier this month were caught “red-handed” engaging in espionage that harmed Italy’s national security. An investigation by the Rome prosecutor’s office had reportedly uncovered efforts to gather intelligence on the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air-defence system destined for Ukraine, NATO operations in Bulgaria, and Italian drone and hypersonic missile engine technology. The case also led to the arrest of two former Italian intelligence agents accused of passing classified information to a Russian agent. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto denounced what he termed a “hybrid war” waged by Moscow.
The exchange marks the latest escalation in a cycle of diplomatic expulsions between Russia and European capitals since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In April 2022, Italy expelled 30 Russian diplomats, prompting Moscow to declare 24 Italian diplomats persona non grata. The current row underscores the persistent tension over alleged Russian espionage activities on NATO territory. With both sides having now executed tit-for-tat expulsions, the immediate dossier appears closed, though the Russian foreign ministry’s warning of further responses to “hostile actions” leaves open the possibility of additional measures if new disputes arise.
| Russian & CIS press | +0.20 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Continental European press | −0.80 | critical |
| Arab Levant-Maghreb press | −0.20 | neutral |
Russia presents the expulsion as an inevitable response to Italy's hostile act, shifting responsibility for the escalation onto the Italian side.
The Russian bloc normalizes the expulsion by framing it as part of a cycle of reciprocal measures, and omits mentioning that the Italian expulsion was based on espionage charges that Russia denies.
The Russian bloc omits that the Russian diplomats expelled from Italy were caught red-handed conducting espionage, according to Italian authorities.
Italy denounces the Russian act as an unjustified retaliation, asserting the legitimacy of its own expulsion based on espionage evidence.
The European bloc builds credibility by emphasizing the red-handed nature of the Russian diplomats and the lack of grounds for the Italian expulsion, creating a moral contrast.
The European bloc omits that Russia had warned it would respond after the expulsion of its diplomats, and that reciprocity is a common diplomatic practice.
The Arab bloc reports the Italian statement without taking sides, maintaining an observer position.
Credibility is achieved through neutral reproduction of official statements, without adding interpretations or context.
The Arab bloc omits providing the context of the espionage charges against the Russian diplomats and the Russian position on the matter.
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