Arsen Avakov: Italy consistently detains active participants of pro-Russian NAFs
Today, May 6, it became known that the Special Operations Unit of Carabiners (ROS) arrested a 28-year-old Italian citizen originally from Messina, who, according to the investigation, participated as a mercenary in the war against Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian armed groups.
ROS carabiners as part of Operation Ivan made an arrest on the orders of the investigating judge Messina on suspicion of violating the rules of the New York International Convention of December 4, 1989 on the Countering of “Mercenary”.
In addition to searches at the place of residence of the suspect, channels of international cooperation for conducting investigative actions abroad have also been activated. In
particular, the investigation collects material on intermediaries who provided financial channels for recruitment of Italian mercenaries for the war in Donbas. The investigation began in 2019.
It is currently documented that the suspect acted as a mercenary in the territory of the so-called “DPR” since 2016. He shared information about his activities with relatives and friends through social networks.
Chairman of the Ukrainian part of the Ukrainian-Italian Council for Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov thanked his Italian colleagues for their consistent work.
“During the negotiations with Italian colleagues, we repeatedly exposed the inadmissibility of participation of Italian citizens on the side of pro-Russian illegal armed groups. Thank you to the law enforcement officers of Italy for their consistent work and friendly position,” he said.
It should be noted that the Carabinieri continue to investigate an organized structure that recruits and finances mercenaries from Italy for the purpose of their further terrorist activities in the ranks of pro-Russian separatist militias in the Donbas. Reference: ROS is the only investigative structure in the Army of Carabiners, specializing in countering organized crime and terrorist threats.
Recall that on April 30, as part of Operation Lone Wolf, the Italian police found a 50-year-old man — a former policeman from Cagliari, who fought in Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian illegal armed groups against Ukrainian forces.
In 2015, he already came into the sight of law enforcement officers investigating the participation of Italian citizens — mercenaries in illegal armed formations in eastern Ukraine. At that time, the detainee escaped punishment because he claimed that he did not shoot Ukrainian soldiers.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
