Libyan militias led by powerful General Khalifa Haftar are driving more and more migrants on refugee boats to Italy. They are supported by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner troop, as Italian secret services have now reported. Russia wants to put pressure on Europe and influence the parliamentary elections in Italy.
The Roman daily “La Repubblica” reported this on Friday, referring to Italian secret services. Russia believes that a surge in refugee movements will be beneficial for a victory for the xenophobic center-right parties in the September 25 parliamentary elections. These would be friendly towards Russia.
Nearly 39,000 people have already arrived in Italy this year after crossing the Mediterranean. In July, the number of refugees rose sharply. On Friday, more than 1,000 refugees aboard two NGO ships waited at a landing port. The helpers spoke of parched women, men and children. Another ship is expected on Saturday with 438 people. Many of them are from Libya.
“Cannon aimed at Italy”
“Libya is a cannon aimed at Italy. Immigration is the most powerful weapon in the Italian election campaign for those seeking to influence September’s general election,” an intelligence source told La Repubblica newspaper. The xenophobic party Fratelli d’Italia is currently the favourite, in alliance with the Lega led by ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and the right-wing conservative Forza Italia led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi befriended Putin
Italian media has repeatedly speculated in recent days that Moscow wants to be involved in the governmental crisis in Rome. The three ruling parties Lega, Five Stars and Forza Italia, which have withdrawn their trust in Prime Minister Mario Draghi, are all said to have good ties to the Kremlin and are critical of Italy’s arms sales to Ukraine. Forza Italia boss Berlusconi, who wants to participate in the parliamentary elections, has been known for years as a good friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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.
