Environmentalists expressed shock on
Friday after the homes of three Italian Fridays For Future
activists were raided on Thursday following a complaint filed by
Russian energy giant Gasprom.
In the dawn raids, the police reportedly seized a variety of
items, including mobile phones and a peace flag, and one of the
activists was quoted as saying he was made to strip naked and do
press-ups to prove he was hiding nothing.
Fridays For Future Italia said the three are accused of
vandalizing the offices of a Gasprom subsidiary during a protest
on March 19.
In a statement, Fridays For Future Italia said the raids were
disproportionately heavy-handed, especially as they came two
months after the protest.
"In voicing its support for the activists involved, the
#FridaysForFuture global movement highlights the intimidatory
intent of the operations," a statement said.
"What has happened makes one reflect once again on the
difficulty our country has in receiving the demands of the
environmental movements, which, with their protests, highlight
the ecocidal potential of the current energy policies based on
fossil fuels, which is all the clearer in a climate of war...
"The intimidation will not stop the climate movement".
Italy's Green Europe party expressed "perplexity" about the
raids.
"It is clearly an intimidatory act that aims to gag the
ecological movement," said Green Europe spokespersons Angelo
Bonelli and Eleonora Evi, and MP Cristian Romaniello in a joint
statement.
"If what reportedly happened is confirmed, it would be of
unprecedented seriousness and, for this reason, our lawmakers
will present a question in parliament to ask the government to
clarify what happened.
"The young activists have all our support and solidarity".
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