Cortei, Moscow rejects the accusations: "The Russian hand behind every problem". But pro-Russian hackers support the marches

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to heed the public appeal of singer Al Bano Carrisi, who has called for the lifting of sanctions against Moscow. In a post on her Telegram channel, Zakharova shared an interview with the artist, published on YouTube on October 21, in which he directly addressed the Italian leader. The Russian official described the singer’s message as sincere and emotional, noting his long-standing popularity in Russia. She questioned whether Rome would truly listen to such voices, suggesting that Italian authorities struggle to accept dissenting opinions from the dominant political narrative. Zakharova highlighted specific incidents involving protests in Italy, stating that when young Italians demonstrate, officials search for a Russian track, and when citizens express discontent, foreign influence is suspected. With irony, she asked if the next target of Italian secret service investigations would be Al Bano himself. This commentary followed remarks by Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who attributed recent unrest to hybrid warfare conducted through social media platforms. According to Zakharova, Meloni had tasked intelligence services to verify potential foreign involvement behind the youth movements. The interview featured by Zakharova was granted by Al Bano to publisher Sandro Teti. In the conversation, the singer referred to Russia as a country that loves Italy and possesses much Italian vitality. He challenged the rationale for imposing sanctions, proposing instead that Italy give shares and flowers to Russia. His primary objective, he stated, was to end what he termed a cursed war. Addressing Meloni personally, he expressed affection and suggested that opening doors to Russia would strengthen their bond. He identified himself as a man of peace. Al Bano subsequently responded to the attention generated by Zakharova’s post in an interview with Adnkronos. He reiterated his desire for global peace, arguing that the world awaits the conclusion of all conflicts, not just the one between Russia and Ukraine. He described the current conflict as causing excessive damage. The singer noted that he enjoys good fame in Russia and expressed willingness to serve as a bridge to facilitate peace. He credited his father, Carmelo Carrisi, for instilling this sense of peace. His father, a farmer who participated in World War II, had told him stories of fleeing combat because he did not share the war’s purpose. Al Bano recalled his father asking why he should kill people who had done nothing to harm him. This exchange forms part of a broader pattern of rhetorical engagement between Russian diplomatic figures and Italian politics. Zakharova has previously targeted other Italian institutions. In February 2025, she criticized President Sergio Mattarella’s comments made in Marseille, where he compared Russian aggression in Ukraine to the expansionist aims of the Third Reich. Zakharova labeled these statements blasphemous inventions and outrageous offenses. Shortly after, she warned that such declarations would not remain without consequences. In March 2025, she accused Mattarella of spreading lies and disinformation regarding Moscow’s nuclear threats to Europe. She also previously commented on Defense Minister Crosetto’s appointment of former Ukrainian minister Mykhailo Fedorov as an advisor, mocking the Italian defense ministry in that instance. The timing of Zakharova’s latest post coincides with ongoing tensions over domestic protests in Italy. Authorities have maintained high alert levels regarding possible foreign interference in mobilizations crossing the country. The Russian embassy in Italy rejected accusations linking Moscow to internal problems, describing the notion of a Russian hand as a universal excuse for any uncomfortable issue. This response came after violence recorded in Milan. However, pro-Russian hackers known as NoName057(16) publicly expressed support for a student demonstration scheduled in Empoli, announcing their participation. This group has been active since 2022 and is known for distributed denial-of-service attacks, which flood digital sites with requests until they become temporarily unavailable. They do not necessarily steal data but compromise accessibility. Italy has faced repeated offensives of this type. A notable incident occurred on October 8, when the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was targeted by an attack attributed to NoName057(16). The security climate remained tense during the weekend, with demonstrations planned in numerous cities including Milan, Rome, Turin, and Naples. The October 17 Movement modified its plans, announcing gathering points only shortly before the marches began. This decision complicated efforts by police prefectures to prevent new disorders. While authorities focus on preventing unrest, the diplomatic rhetoric from Moscow continues to intertwine cultural figures with geopolitical disputes, framing domestic Italian debates through the lens of international conflict resolution.