Massimiliano Latorre,
one of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian
fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012, can stay in
Italy while he awaits the outcome of international arbitration
in The Hague, the Indian supreme court ruled on Wednesday.
The conditions are effectively the same as those set for
Salvatore Girone - the other marine involved in the case which
has strained relations between New Delhi and Rome.
The Italian foreign ministry on Wednesday voiced
"satisfaction" with the Indian supreme court's decision.
A statement said it was "an important step that
acknowledges the commitment taken by the Italian government with
its appeal to international arbitration to uphold the case of
our two marine fusiliers".
A court in The Hague is expected to take up to two years
to rule in the case.
India let Girone return to Italy earlier this year after
the arbitration tribunal said he should be allowed to go home.
New Delhi allowed Latorre to return to Italy after he
had a stroke in 2014.
Italy argues the marines should have immunity as they were
servicemen working on a mission and that India does not have
jurisdiction as the incident took place outside its territorial
waters.
Rome took the case to international tribunal after
repeated delays in the handling of the case in India.
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