Prosecutors huddle over Savoini case

(ANSA) - Milan, July 15 - Italian prosecutors huddled in Milan Monday over a far-right League party member suspected of discussing funding via oil kickbacks from Russia.
    Ahead of the huddle, Premier Giuseppe Conte said League leader, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini should report to parliament on the case of the suspected League funding from Russia.
    "Why not" the premier replied to a question on whether Salvini should answer calls for him to report to parliament on the case, a case which Salvini has dismissed as "ridiculous".
    "We believe in transparency towards citizens in every forum, in all occasions, first and foremost in parliament, the right fora for honouring this guiding principle," Conte said.
    Paolo Savoini, the 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.
    On Monday Conte was asked about reports Salvini said he had been "stabbed in the back" by Conte's denial of the League leader's version of events.
    "I reject that, there's no way. I know Salvini did not say that, did not think that, did not declare that," Conte said.
    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".
    On Monday he reiterated this, saying "I don't comment on non-news".
    "Those who are trying to cause difficulties for us over this are being belied by the opinion polls".
    Alessandro Di Battista, former No.2 in the League's government partner the 5-Star Movement (M5S), said Salvini was lying and his defence was "ridiculous".
    Savoini exercised his right to remain silent in Mondays's questioning.