Paolo Savoini, a far-right League
member under investigation for international corruption linked
to alleged funding via alleged Russian oil kickbacks, has been
summoned for questioning by Milan prosecutors Monday afternoon.
Savoini, president of the Lombardy-Russia Association, has
been linked to the League's ties with Russia.
League leader Matteo Salvini has described the probe as
"ridiculous" and has denied inviting Savoini to take part in two
bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin
recently.
But Premier Giuseppe Conte said at the weekend that an
invitation for Savoini for the second of the meetings, at Rome's
Villa Madama, was requested by Salvini's international strategy
advisor Claudio D'Amico.
Conte said Sunday that his government was not in danger of
collapsing over the suspicions Savoini discussed taking
funding via oil kickbacks from Russia.
Milan prosecutors opened a probe after reports that
Savoini and two other Italians met with two other Italians and
three Russians in a Moscow hotel on October 18 to discuss
siphoning off an alleged 65 million euros from oil profits.
Savoini was also present at two bilateral meetings involving
Putin.
"I'd say no," Conte replied when asked if his government was
at risk over the case ahead of the closing ceremony of the 2019
Universaide in Naples.
"Mr Savoini has never had a government position.
"So this investigation only regards him at the moment.
"It would seem to be a mistaken observation to me to say that
it could put the government at risk," added Conte, who at the
weekend issued a statement that contradicted elements of Deputy
Premier Salvini's version regarding Savoini's presence at the
bilateral meetings.
"I clarified things and I think I was very clear. I'll let
the judiciary investigate".
Interior Minister and League leader Salvini said his party
has not taken a rouble off the Russians and described the case
as "ridiculous".
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