Thread by @olgatokariuk

For the second time in two years, Russian officials try to censor/intimidate Italian journalists who publish articles, critical of the Kremlin. This time, Russian MFA spokeswoman Maria Zakharova sent an offensive letter to @repubblica editor-in-chief Maurizio Molinari

In response to Molinari's editorial, condemning Russian hybrid tactics, such as support of migrants' trafficking, military buildup at Ukraine's border and use of gas as a weapon, Zakharova adviced him to 'use copies of Repubblica to heat your house, if you don't like Russian gas'

Russian MFA spokeswoman described @repubblica editorial as "a rant", "a nauseating slander", "blatant lies", an illusion "built to "get into the good graces of Russophobic politicians ". It repeated its usual mantra about 'internal conflict' in Ukraine, etc

I haven't yet seen @repubblica reaction. The fact is that Russian MFA statement was broadly shared by various pro-Kremlin Facebook and Twitter accounts in Italian. Five Star Movement politician Vito Petrocelli said he agreed with it, @formichenews reported google.com/amp/s/formiche…

This not the first time Russian officials address Italian media in this manner. Last year, @LaStampa journalist @jacopo_iacoboni received threats from Russian defence ministry in response to his critical coverage of suspicious 'coronavirus convoy' Russia sent to Italy

To sum up, we can safely add attempts to muzzle Western journalists to Russia's arsenal of hybrid tactics. This is a serious issue and it should be addressed. I express my deepest solidarity with @repubblica staff in the face of Russia's attempts to silence them