Italy Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

The Italian Schengen visa scandal demonstrates how corruption and informal intermediary

In Rome, former Italian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Piergabrielle Papadia was arrested on charges of organizing a corruption scheme for issuing long-term Schengen visas to Russian citizens. According to investigators, the diplomat, acting…

May 11, 2026Italy, Russia

Geoeconomics Propaganda and Disinformation

Italian Lobbyist Vittorio Torrembini Promotes Narrative on the “Inevitable Revival” of EU–Russia Economic Relations

Well-known Russian lobbyist Vittorio Torrembini stated in an interview with Russian propagandists that Western sanctions are ineffective and that a new flourishing of trade and economic relations with Russia is supposedly inevitable.…

May 7, 2026Italy

Intelligence ops National Security Warfare

Italy as a Gateway: Russian Elite Networks, Criminal Ecosystems, Intelligence and Hybrid Influence in Southern Europe

Italy remains the leading country in the Schengen Area in terms of the number of visas issued to Russian citizens (152,000 in 2025), which enabled the visa operator VMS to increase its revenue by…

April 22, 2026Italy, Russia

Geopolitics Propaganda and Disinformation Psyops Warfare

Beyond Art: The Florence Performances of Zakharova and Repin as Part of Russia’s Information Warfare Strategy

On 20–21 January 2026 in Florence (Italy), as part of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival, performances are scheduled featuring the well-known ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and her husband, violinist Vadim Repin. Both artists simultaneously serve as Russian state…

January 7, 2026art, Italy, Russia

Intelligence ops Propaganda and Disinformation

Italy: Russia’s influence campaign dismantles vast network of Kremlin agents

Russia steps up influence effort by GRU-SVR to minimize risks for Kremlin's image over war crimes in Ukraine, the same model Moscow (GRU) used to spread disinformation about the causes…

January 8, 2024GRU, Italy, Russia

Intelligence ops National Security

Transactions by Russian embassies mean intelligence is extraordinary active, require enhanced monitoring

Russian embassies in Europe have increased gray transactions on their accounts, which likely involve intelligence and meddling campaigns. Authorities in Italy are investigating a series of suspicious cash withdrawals that…

November 23, 2023Italy, Russia

National Security Terrorism

Italy facing the anarchist terrorism alarm

On the night of Monday 30 January there was an attack with a Molotov cocktail on the Town Hall 5 in Milan. Two local police cars were burned. The investigators…

February 1, 2023Italy

Geopolitics Governance

Berlusconi feeling abandoned by Washington, turns to Moscow

An atlantist with Putin in his heart. This is the contradictory portrait of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who in these hours is causing a scandal for some recordings…

October 21, 2022Berlusconi, Italy, Meloni, Russia, USA

Intelligence ops

How does Russian undercover intelligence in Italy look like?

Italy’s Mario Draghi government shutdown directly linked to Russian intelligence actions in Europe, as it spurs to trigger political crisis in EU. Read also: What next Italy? Russian embassies in…

July 27, 2022Italy, Russia

Estimates Governance

What next Italy?

The government of Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi managed to gain confidence in the Senate on the evening of Wednesday 20 July, but was unable to stand up. The right-wing…

July 22, 2022Italy

Italy