RFE
12 Jul 2019, 01:17 GMT+10
Italian prosecutors are investigating allegations of illicit Russian funding of the far-right League party of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, media reports said on July 11.
Prosecutors in Milan are probing the possible crime of 'international corruption' and have already conducted some interrogations, the reports said.
The investigation comes following media reports about a meeting that allegedly took place between Russian officials and one of Salvini's close aides where they reportedly discussed a secret oil deal.
Salvini has denied the allegations.
Italian weekly L'Espresso reported in February that former Salvini spokesman Gianluca Savoini had met Russian businessmen in October 2018 about a possible oil deal that would funnel money to the League party.
The U.S. website BuzzFeed reported on July 10 it had received an audio recording of the Moscow meeting and published a transcript where Savoini can be heard discussing a covert oil transaction.
The website said that there was no evidence that such a transaction subsequently took place.
Salvini was in Moscow at the time the meeting allegedly took place, but there was no suggestion he took part. He has previously visited Moscow and been seen in T-shirts praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It was not immediately clear if the Milan probe was started in reaction to the BuzzFeed article or following the report by L'Espresso.
Moscow has attempted to establish ties with far-right European populist movements in recent years.
Putin said in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that his United Russia party was working closely with Salvini's anti-migrant League party.
Based on reporting by dpa, Reuters, and AFP
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationBISHOP, California: A fast-growing wildfire in California's Eastern Sierra region has burned 1,000 acres and forced people to leave...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Radio Free Asia, a key voice in press freedom across the continent for nearly three decades, is now warning it may...
BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota: At least one person died when a small plane crashed into a house in a Minneapolis suburb on Saturday, a city...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, President Donald Trump ordered the removal of what he called improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The University of Michigan, known for its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, announced this week that...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan's leadership was on high alert ahead of the U.S. tariff announcement, with President Lai Ching-te convening...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's auto industry shifted into higher gear in March, with a sharp jump of 18.5 percent in new car registrations...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Apple's Irish headquarters shouldered a massive 23.2 billion euro corporation tax charge last year, largely due to...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Finance Ireland has secured more than 700 million euros in funding to ramp up lending for cars and commercial property,...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Apple appears to have dodged a major regulatory setback in Europe, following recent changes to how users select...
Johannesburg [South Africa], April 4 (ANI): Pranavi Urs was in fine form before the first round was suspended due to a flooded course...