Italy’s Foreign Ministry summons Ambassador of the Russian Federation

At the request of Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Italy was summoned to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and received by the Secretary General, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, to discuss the transfer under temporary administration of Ariston Thermo Rus, a company belonging to the Ariston Group, to a company of the Gazprom Group.

Ambassador Guariglia expressed the Italian Government's strong disappointment at this unexpected measure and asked Ambassador Alexey Paramonov for clarifications on its motives, which have no basis in law, all the more so considering that it was taken against a company that has historical roots in Italy and has no connection with the current international crisis situation. He also expressed his hope that Russia might reconsider the decision taken, as it was qualified as temporary by Russia itself.

Yesterday, the European Union issued a statement strongly condemning the decision in question, which also affected a German company, emphasising, among other things, how it represented further proof of Russia's disregard for international law.

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani has been in contact with the company from the outset and reserves the right to investigate the consequences of the Russian decision together with the G7 and EU partners and to consider an appropriate response.

Together with its European partners, and in particular with Germany, Italy calls on the Russian Federation to withdraw the measures taken against legitimate economic activities of foreign companies in the Country.

The competent bodies of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular the General Directorate for Country Promotion, continue to follow and monitor the situation, in close cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Moscow and the Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU.