Russian criticism of an Italian newspaper was “inappropriate”, Italy’s foreign and defence ministries said on Friday, in a case that has cast a cloud over Moscow’s efforts to help Rome cope with the coronavirus crisis.
Russia has sent doctors, nurses and medical equipment to disease-stricken Italy in a goodwill operation that Moscow has dubbed “From Russia with love”.
While the Italian government has warmly thanked Russia, La Stampa, one of the country’s oldest newspapers, has questioned the help. In one article it quoted anonymous political sources as saying 80% of the equipment was of little or no use.
It also suggested the activity could lead to a security breach because of the large number of military involved.
The spokesman of Russia’s Defence Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, took to Facebook on Thursday to denounce the article, accusing La Stampa of besmirching a “noble mission”, whipping up anti-Russian sentiment and spreading fake news.
He added that the paper should learn a Roman proverb “He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it.”
The comment was widely denounced on Twitter by Italian journalists as a veiled threat on the life of the reporter who wrote the stories and an attack on press freedom.
Wading into the row on Friday, Italy’s foreign and defence ministries issued a joint statement thanking Russia for its aid effort, but taking Konashenkov to task for his Facebook post.