Russia Expels Italian Diplomats in Retaliation for Espionage Case

Russia has expelled two Italian military attachés from its territory in retaliation for Italy's recent decision to expel two Russian diplomats accused of espionage. The move, announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday, saw Italian military attaché Davide D'Aprile and Assistant Defense Attaché Vittorio Parrella declared persona non grata and given a 72-hour deadline to leave Russia along with their families. The action follows Italy's expulsion of Russian military attachés Ivan Petrovich Gorbachev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Astakhov earlier this month, whom Rome accused of running an espionage network targeting the Italian government. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the expulsions as an "appropriate response" to the previous action taken by Italy. According to the ministry's official statement, the decision was made after repeated violations of diplomatic norms by the Italian side. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the move during a brief comment to the Russian news agency Tass, stating that the expulsions were a direct consequence of the earlier removal of Russian diplomats from Italian soil. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani strongly criticized the expulsions, calling them an act of "blatant retaliation." He emphasized that the two Russian diplomats had been caught engaging in espionage activities detrimental to Italy's national security. On social media, Tajani reiterated that the expulsions were based on evidence showing the Russian officials had been actively working to compromise Italian interests. Senator Maurizio Gasparri, head of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, echoed similar sentiments, expressing solidarity with the expelled Italian diplomats. He noted that the individuals removed from Russia were people of integrity, contrasting them with the Russian diplomats who had been caught red-handed in espionage. Gasparri called the Russian response an example of an "intolerable attitude," highlighting the perceived imbalance in the diplomatic exchange. The incident stems from an ongoing investigation initiated by Italian prosecutors in 2025, which uncovered a series of communications between Gorbachev and Astakhov and two retired Italian intelligence officers, Gavino Raoul Piras and Vincenzo di Pasquale. Both men, aged 59, were found to have engaged in exchanges involving classified information in return for financial compensation. Piras, in particular, has been referred to in Italian media as an "ex-007" due to his background in intelligence work and his NATO-related training. In addition to Piras and di Pasquale, five other unnamed individuals are under investigation by Italian authorities. These include active-duty military personnel holding positions related to highly sensitive operations. It is alleged that these individuals were responsible for providing classified information to the two retired intelligence officers, who subsequently passed it on to the Russian diplomats. The case has drawn attention to broader concerns regarding foreign interference in domestic affairs and the potential vulnerabilities within Italy's defense and intelligence structures. While the Italian government has maintained that its actions were justified by clear evidence, the Russian response underscores the growing tensions in bilateral relations between the two countries. The situation highlights the complex interplay between national security interests and diplomatic protocols. As both nations continue to assert their positions, the international community watches closely to see how this dispute might affect broader geopolitical dynamics in Europe.