According to the European Commission, the 20 bottles of vodka Silvio Berlusconi claims to have received from Vladimir Putin for his birthday are a violation of sanctions imposed on Russia. The authority announced this on Thursday and responded to statements by the former Italian prime minister.
Berlusconi, whose conservative Forza Italia wants to form a coalition with the right-wing Fratelli d’Italia and the right-wing populist Lega, said this week he was back in touch with the Russian president. He recently exchanged “sweet letters” with Putin.
20 bottles of vodka for a birthday
“For my birthday, he sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a very sweet letter,” Berlusconi told his party MPs, according to an audio recording released by the LaPresse news agency.
Should Berlusconi give up the drink?
However, the import of, among other things, Russian spirits is prohibited – including vodka. This includes a package of sanctions agreed by the European Union in April against Russia over its war against Ukraine, the European Commission said. There are no exceptions for gifts. However, it is up to the individual EU members to implement the sanctions. However, it was initially unclear whether the Italian authorities would take any steps.
The incident raises the question of how the future government in Rome will deal with Russia. Giorgia Meloni, who is likely to become prime minister as head of the Fratelli d’Italia, responded on Wednesday to reports of Berlusconi’s statements. She said her new government is pro-NATO and sees itself fully as part of Europe. Berlusconi celebrated his 86th birthday on September 29.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
