11 minutes ago20 Putin's vodka bottles for Berlusconi violate EU sanctions
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)The 20 bottles of vodka Italian Silvio Berlusconi has received as a birthday gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin violates European sanctions imposed on Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission said in a statement today. Former Prime Minister Berlusconi, whose party Forza Italy will join Italy's new coalition government, [...]
Former Prime Minister Berlusconi, whose party Forza Italy will join Italy's new coalition government, caused controversy this week when he said he was in contact with Putin and had recently exchanged letters with him.
“On my birthday, he sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a letter to”, said Berlusconi, who turned 86 last month, in front of lawmakers in Italy's lower house of parliament, according to the audio published by the La Prerisse news agency.
The EU sanctions package extended the ban on importing Russian products to include alcoholic beverages, including vodka, a Commission spokesman said in a statement, adding that there were no exceptions to gifts.
However, according to the same source, it is up to individual member states to enforce sanctions and it was not clear whether any measure was taken by Italian authorities.
