General Roberto Vannacci is under investigation for what was published in his book "The world upside down" . Regarding the notification he received yesterday regarding the start of formal proceedings, he was categorical: « I will have my own military defender but I will not use any lawyer from the forum : I will defend myself personally, sure that I have not violated any rules. Here the freedom of speech and expression of one's ideas in a free country is being questioned ." «Since yesterday - he explained - I have received many messages of solidarity from people who hold public and common roles, from many colleagues and retired commanders. In these two days the sales of my book have quadrupled and so far 230 thousand copies have been sold."
And regarding the proceedings concerning him, he added that "now there are deadlines and defense briefs to produce". The general, who went on leave for a month, explained that he had made this request , «obviously authorized, well before the transfer to another assignment. It was something decided for some time, for family reasons, which has nothing to do with it. When the leave ends, if it is not extended, I will begin training to take on the new role so that I can efficiently direct the Land Operational Forces Command, which is a complex thing."
On the rumors that appeared in some newspapers, which speak of an investigation against him during the years in which he worked at the Italian embassy in Russia , Vannacci denied this possibility: «I don't know, no one told me anything. That assignment of mine ended a year and a half ago and I was never informed of any shortcomings during that period. Indeed, my work was considered excellent and it seems impossible to me that I am not aware of investigations into me that may concern that period."
(Unioneonline/vf)