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Short thread on Salvini & Savoini's reactions to our story.
Savoini told the NYTimes he does not recall who he was sitting with during the meeting because “it was full of Italians and Russians that morning. All over the hotel and also who spoke with me”
nytimes.com/2019/07/10/wor…
Savoini told the NYTimes he does not recall who he was sitting with during the meeting because “it was full of Italians and Russians that morning. All over the hotel and also who spoke with me”
nytimes.com/2019/07/10/wor…
Savoini has made similar comments to Italian news outlets, telling one newspaper that it was just a meeting between Russian and Italian entrepreneurs ilmessaggero.it/politica/fondi…
During the meeting at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow Savoini and the five other men make several references to previous discussions and meetings.
Savoini describes the three Italians as "a triumvirate,” a “watertight compartment” that needs to be “more than prudent.”
Savoini describes the three Italians as "a triumvirate,” a “watertight compartment” that needs to be “more than prudent.”
Savoini describes himself as the "total connection" between the Italian and Russian political sides.
The Italian men are explicit that the purpose of the proposed deal is to fund Lega and “sustain” a campaign, they are “not counting on making money” for themselves.
The Italian men are explicit that the purpose of the proposed deal is to fund Lega and “sustain” a campaign, they are “not counting on making money” for themselves.
Salvini, meanwhile, is repeating the line that he never took any funding from Russia.
This is not the issue. As we make clear in the story, we do not know if the proposed deal was ever executed buzzfeednews.com/article/albert…
There are 3 sets of questions Salvini should address:
This is not the issue. As we make clear in the story, we do not know if the proposed deal was ever executed buzzfeednews.com/article/albert…
There are 3 sets of questions Salvini should address:
1) What is his relationship with Savoini? Why is a man who has no official role in gov't going on official trips to Moscow with the minister, sitting in on meetings with Russian ministers, and attending gov't dinners with President Putin? In what capacity does he do all this?
2) What does Salvini know about the meeting at the Metropol on Oct. 18th? Was he aware of the negotiation and the proposed deal to fund his party and election campaign? Does he know who the other Italians at the meeting are?
3) What did Salvini do on the evening of Oct. 17 in Moscow after he spoke at a conference at the Lotte Hotel? Why is it that Russian officials that he reportedly met that evening are then named the next day during the meeting at the Metropol Hotel?
According to Italian magazine L’Espresso, Salvini met with Russian deputy PM Kozak at the office of a Russia United member called Vladimir Pligin on the 17th.
Pligin's name is also mentioned several times during the meeting.
Pligin's name is also mentioned several times during the meeting.
According to Italian magazine L’Espresso, Salvini met with Russian deputy PM Kozak at the office of a Russia United member called Vladimir Pligin on the 17th. When asked about this claim in Feb. by an Italian TV programme Salvini didn’t deny it, and said he couldn’t remember
Salvini has so far refused to answer these questions.
His spokesperson "declined to comment directly on whether Mr. Salvini knew about the negotiation at the Metropol hotel" when asked by the NYTimes' @jasondhorowitz
His spokesperson "declined to comment directly on whether Mr. Salvini knew about the negotiation at the Metropol hotel" when asked by the NYTimes' @jasondhorowitz
@jasondhorowitz You can read our full story here: buzzfeednews.com/article/albert…
