Ukrainian president, Italian PM discuss case of National Guard member Markiv

Zelensky thanked Italy for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, noting the importance of maintaining the regime of sanctions against Russia as an effective mechanism for ensuring the implementation of the Minsk agreements by Moscow, the press service of the head of state reported.

The parties discussed the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries and interpersonal contacts. Zelensky invited the president of the Italian Republic to visit Ukraine.

The recent decision of the court of the city of Pavia to National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv on a charge of murder of Italian journalist Andrea Rocchelli in Donbas in 2014 was also discussed.

The head of state offered legal assistance of Ukraine in conducting a thorough joint examination of the circumstances of the death of Andrea Rocchelli. He expressed concern over the unduly harsh decision of the court and underlined the importance of the case consideration by the Italian Court of Appeal.

As reported, on July 12, a court in the Italian town of Pavia delivered a judgment in the case of Ukraine’s National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv, sentencing him to 24 years in prison.

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