The gift of a box of vodka to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from Russian President Vladimir Putin raises the question of whether this is a violation of EU sanctions. The ban on the import of vodka into the bloc is indicated by the publication dpa.
As a representative of the European Commission noted on Wednesday, the publication writes, the import of alcoholic beverages from Russia is actually prohibited. The fifth package of EU sanctions against Russia, which entered into force in April, includes a ban on the import of vodka.
However, EU states are responsible for the implementation of sanctions, and from the beginning it was unclear whether the restrictive measure also applies to gifts, the publication notes.
News agency LaPresse released audio of Berlusconi's secretly recorded speech to Forza Italia members of parliament on Tuesday. In it, the 86-year-old politician says he has reconnected with Rutin and says the Kremlin leader considers him one of his "five real friends".
Berlusconi described how Putin sent him "20 bottles of vodka and a very nice letter" for his birthday. Berlusconi said he responded with bottles of Italian wine and a "nice letter".