In a talk show with YouTube channel Visione TV on Sep. 1, EIR’s Claudio Celani was asked about the German and EU allegations that Russia was behind the failed drone attack at the Leipzig airport on August 4. Celani answered: “The situation is grave but not serious,” explaining that the escalation is dangerous but the allegations are ridiculous.

The pattern repeated the following day. On Sept. 2, the Italian government and the City of London both surfaced allegations that Russia is interfering in Italian elections, echoing the coordination Berlin and Brussels had shown on sanctions. The mouthpiece of the City, the Financial Times, ran a major article on Sept. 2 about Gen. (ret.) Roberto Vannacci, a rising star in politics whom they labelled “Russia’s Trojan Horse in Italy.” That same day, on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, Italian Minister Antonio Tajani raised the issue of potential Russian interference in next year’s Italian elections. “This is a general issue that affects the entire European Union, but we cannot rule out the possibility of attempts to influence elections in countries where voting is taking place,” he said. “I am convinced this could happen, which is why we must take action in advance. I do not rule out that there may be attempts by the Russian Federation to interfere in the democratic processes of European Union countries, meddling in the free and democratic elections held in our countries and seeking to influence the will of the people through these activities. That would be truly unacceptable.”