Harsh attack against Pina Picierno, PD vice-president of the European Parliament, by Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyev, a friend of Vladimir Putin and propagandist, after her appearance on Massimo Giletti's Rai programme "Lo stato delle cose" was cancelled.
Picierno had launched an appeal to the network director and the Supervisory Commission, then the Democratic members of the Supervisory Commission also addressed an urgent question to the CEO and the Rai president. In the end it was decided to exclude Solovyev : «I thank the Rai top brass and the Democratic Party deputies in the Rai Supervisory Commission for having avoided giving voice to one of the worst Putin propagandists – Picierno commented -. Freedom of the press or of speech has nothing to do with it, Vladimir Solovyev is Putin's megaphone on Rossija 1 TV, he is not a journalist. I would like to point out that this gentleman, the day after the invasion of Ukraine, spread videos in which he demonstrated that Russia could have struck the main European capitals with nuclear bombs in a few minutes. He is on the European Union's sanctions list and the Guardia di Finanza seized two of his villas on Lake Como, both of which were discovered by Alex Navalny's anti-corruption foundation, who was arrested for this in 2019. Inviting him on our state TV, in addition to being a violation of the sanctions, would have been a slap in the face to those who are fighting for freedom in Russia too."
“Her mouth stinks of tyranny,” Solovjev insults her on the Russian broadcaster Rossija 1: “Here’s what you have to understand, you miserable, pitiful beast: that you go against all the principles of European democracy.” And then, in Italian: “Go on, you certified idiot.” “If you dare, you disgusting beast, to accuse me of disinformation, then what would you say about Donald Trump who claims that you Europeans are liars?” – he continues in Russian – “What do you say to the American cyberking Sachs who claims that your Russophobia is “crazy” (in Italian, ed.)? Are you crazy? Shame on the human race.” And again in Italian: “Here’s who you are. And note: they interfere in the affairs of Italian journalism, but they are afraid to interfere in the Romanian elections.”
"Solidarity with the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, the target of unacceptable attacks - is the message of solidarity to Picierno from the European Parliament -. The Parliament firmly supports democracy and freedom of expression, and opposes all forms of incitement to hatred ".
(Online Union)
