Giorgia Meloni conducted a telephone conversation, including on Ukraine, with a person claiming to be the “chairman of the African Union Commission”. The Italian Office of the Council of Ministers expressed regret over the “fraud” that the Prime Minister fell victim to. The authors of the provocation are Russian comedians who have already deceived several politicians in a similar way, including President Andrzej Duda.
In a statement, the Office of the Diplomatic Advisor, the Prime Minister, stated that it “regrets” the fraud on the part of a person who contacted Giorgia Meloni by presenting himself as a representative of the “African Union Commission”.
As explained, this event took place on September 18 during the period of actions taken by the Prime Minister Italian “to strengthen relations with African leaders.”
During the conversation, later published on the Internet, as reported by Ansa, the Italian Prime Minister said, among other things: “there is great fatigue on all sides.” war in Ukraine. She added that “the moment is approaching when everyone will understand that a way out is needed.” The problem, Meloni said, is “finding a way out that is acceptable to both sides without destroying international law.”
Giorgio MeloniAlexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock
Ansa quoted sources in the Prime Minister’s Office who noted that the head of government, despite attempts to persuade her to say something “uncomfortable”, essentially repeated the position of her cabinet.
Earlier, provocateurs implicated, among others, Andrzej Duda
In November 2022, shortly after the events in Przewodów, a Russian provocateur posing as the president France Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with President Andrzej Duda. The conversation took place in English. The president talked about the details of the situation in Przewodów and possible causes. He also talked about other conversations he had on this matter.
the office of President confirmed that the conversation took place. “After the rocket explosion in Przewodowo, during ongoing calls with heads of state and government, a connection occurred with a person claiming to be the President of France, Emanuel Macron,” the statement said. The office argued that during the conversation, which lasted over seven minutes, “the president realized from the unusual way the interlocutor conducted the conversation that there may have been an attempt at fraud and ended the conversation.”
This was the second time the Polish president was misled by Russian provocateurs. In 2020 he talked to the man for 11 minuteswho posed as Secretary General UN António Guterres.
READ ALSO: They once tricked Andrzej Duda, now Russian pranksters are spreading Kremlin disinformation
Andrzej Duda’s conversation with Russian comedians. Two Polish diplomats suffered the consequencesTwo Polish diplomats were recalled after Russian comedians impersonating the UN Secretary General called and talked to President Andrzej Duda. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls the situation “telephone provocation.”Ewa Paluszkiewicz | Facts in the afternoon
Main photo source: Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock