Avakov, Italian ambassador discuss case of Ukrainian soldier Markiv arrested in Italy

Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov held a meeting with Ambassador of Italy in Ukraine to discuss the situation with the detention in Italy of Ukrainian National Guard soldier Vitaliy Markiv, who is suspected of involvement in the murder of Italian photo reporter Andrea Rockelli in Donbas.

The Ukrainian interior minister wrote about this on his Facebook page.

"During the meeting, I informed the Ambassador of Italy about my presence at the court’s hearing in Pavia, the readiness of the leadership of Ukraine’s National Guard to testify in the case of V. Markiv. The Italian Ambassador in Ukraine voiced hope that a Ukrainian point of view would be heard. Ukraine will not leave its soldier!” Avakov wrote.

As reported, National Guard soldier Vitaliy Markiv, citizen of Ukraine and Italy, was arrested at Bologna airport on June 30, 2017. He is accused of involvement in the murder of Italian photo reporter Andrea Rockelli and Russian translator Andrey Mironov as a result of shooting near Sloviansk on May 24, 2014.

The soldier has denied accusations.

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