The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian charge d'affaires due to anti-Russian attacks in the media

Charge d'affaires of Italy Giovanni Scopa was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry because of the anti-Russian campaign in the Italian media and Rome's reaction to Moscow's position. This was announced on August 7 by the Russian diplomatic department.

"The Italian charge d'affaires has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry because of the campaign against Russia in the Italian media and Rome's disproportionate reaction to Moscow's position," the Foreign Ministry's website says.

The report notes that the Italian side was pointed out to the "consistent anti-Russian activities" of the mainstream Italian media, numerous fakes and Russophobic attacks, which are supported by the Italian authorities.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, this only worsens the crisis in Russian-Italian relations. The ministry also clarified that it was in such an atmosphere that it became possible to cancel the performance of the Bolshoi Theater conductor Valery Gergiev at the Summer Royally music festival in Kazan.

"The counterproductive course towards shaping the image of an enemy in Russia in no way meets the fundamental interests of Italians and does not reflect the long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual sympathy between the peoples of Russia and Italy," the Foreign Ministry concluded.

Forbidden City: how Italy reacted to the cancellation of Gergiev's concert

The outrage of maestro's fans and the prospect of a trial due to the disruption of the performance

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on July 23 that the ministry strongly condemns Italy's discriminatory attempts to ban Russian culture amid the cancellation of a concert by Russian conductor and Director General of the Bolshoi Theater Valery Gergiev. Later that day, she commented on the situation with a quote from the Bible.: "Don't throw beads in front of pigs."

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.