A comment by the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, regarding the partial collapse of the Torre dei Conti, in Rome, sparked outrage in Italy this Monday (3).
The accident at the 13th-century construction left one worker seriously injured and killed another, who was trapped in the rubble for 11 hours and later died in hospital, Italian authorities said.
In an ironic comment, Zakharova celebrated the partial collapse, citing the 2.5 billion euros in aid that Italy has allocated to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022.
“As long as the Italian government continues to waste taxpayers’ money, Italy will collapse completely, from its economy to its towers,” the spokeswoman said on Telegram.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry, known as Farnesina, repudiated Zakharova’s comments.
“The words of the Russian spokesperson are sordid and worrying. Because they confirm the depth of the vulgarity into which Moscow’s leadership has fallen. No one in Italy, absolutely no one, would ever think of rejoicing, of speculating about an accident, a tragedy in which we Italians are still involved,” said the ministry, according to information from the Ansa agency.
According to EFE Agency, Farnesina will summon the Russian ambassador in Rome, Alexwy Paramonov, on Tuesday (4), to make a formal protest due to Zakharova’s statement. Politicians from across the political spectrum also condemned the comment.
“At a delicate moment, when we are following with apprehension the developments of the collapse of the Torre dei Conti, for the safety of the workers involved and for the damage to an Italian historical heritage, mocking Italy in this way is characteristic of a barbaric State”, said Fabio Rampelli, vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies and member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, according to information from the broadcaster Sky.