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Former Italian officer sentenced to 20 years in jail for spying for Russia — agency

According to the ANSA news agency, the prosecution asked that the man, Walter Biot, be sentenced to 18 years in jail

ROME, January 19. /TASS/. A jury in Rome has sentenced a former Italian officer to 20 years in prison on charges of spying for Russia, the ANSA news agency reported.

According to the news agency, the prosecution asked that the man, Walter Biot, be sentenced to 18 years in jail. The agency explains that this is the second sentence handed down to Biot. In March 2023, a military court in Rome found him guilty and sentenced to 30 years behind bars but the verdict was challenged later.

Biot and an employee of the Russian embassy were detained on March 30, 2023 at a parking lot in a Rome suburb. They had a data storage device and a box with cash. Biot, a former officer of the Italian defense ministry’s general staff, is accused of espionage, leaking state secrets, and corruption. The military prosecution charges him with divulging state secrets with the aim of assisting in spying, disclosing confidential information and taking photos for the purpose of espionage.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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Russian diplomat slams Western ambassador for being absent from Putin’s inauguration

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Polish judge asks for political asylum in Belarus

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Parades, concerts across Russia to mark Victory Day on May 9

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279 parliament members had voted in favor of the document

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Since June 12, 2013, Putin has been the leader of the non-governmental movement All-Russia People’s Front, created at his initiative as a coalition of social and political forces

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French tired of supporting Ukraine — war correspondent

Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

Putin congratulates former Soviet republics with 79th anniversary of Victory over Germany

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Moscow grateful to Abuja for Nigeria’s understanding about situation in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

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According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strikes were carried out with drones as well as sea-and air-launched precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles

Chinese diplomat comments on Blinken’s warning on support to Russia

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian pointed out that the US was supplying Ukraine with arms and ammunition and at the same time making unfounded accusations regarding trade between China and Russia

FACTBOX: Key facts and figures about Russia’s Victory Day

Festive processions, gatherings, assemblies and reception ceremonies are held across Russia on May 9 to honor veterans of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War

Ukraine’s economy to fall into deep coma without West’s support — Russian MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, the Kiev regime is nothing else but "a huge global laundering operation for the transfer of tens and hundreds of billions of dollars for unknown purposes and no one knows where"

EU envoys approve plan for Ukraine's obligations to carry out reforms

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Presence of French-speaking mercenaries identified in 20 cases in Zaporozhye — politician

Ethnic Poles and Georgians account for the largest groups of mercenaries in the Ukrainian army

Musk's assertions about ancient Martian civilizations could hold true — Roscosmos

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day

Battlegroup Center units fully liberated the settlement of Novokalinovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic and battlegroup West units fully liberated the settlement of Kislovka in the Kharkov Region

Lukashenko, Putin talk ahead of EAEU summit

Earlier, the Belarusian leader said that during the visit he expected to discuss their partnership and tactical nuclear weapons with his Russian counterpart

FSB declassifies documents about Nazi Germany’s crimes in Crimea

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Armenian PM tells Putin he wants to discuss bilateral relations

The Armenian prime minister thanked the Russian leader for the warm reception and perfect organization of the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union

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The Brent price reached $77.69, while WTI oil also showed a moderate decline and traded at $71.85

Ukrainian army leaving positions near Avdeyevka over Russia’s incessant gunfire — POW

The escape gives only a few a chance to survive as frequently incessant Russian artillery accurate strikes rule out this option for Ukrainian troops, Yury Yurechko noted