General Vannacci under investigation for embezzlement and fraud: “Parties, dinners and expenses of family and BMW in Russia”

General Roberto Vannacci is under investigation for embezzlement and fraud. A Defense Ministry inspection of the period he served as military attaché in Moscow finds “critical issues, anomalies and fiscal damages” in reimbursement requests made with self-certification. The military prosecutor's office then opened an investigation. For the use of a company car, a tax loss is estimated at 9 thousand euros. But inspectors also dispute the reimbursements received for his wife and daughters. But there are also expenses for “Promotion of the country Italy” in the restaurants of the Russian capital. His successor denied having participated. Vannacci has announced the upcoming release of a new book. While there has been talk for some time about his candidacy with the League for the European Championships.

Self-certifications

Details of the investigation were revealed today Corriere della Sera. The investigation has been discussed since last December. He spoke of “filth”, claiming to have “annoyed someone”. The mission in Russia began on February 7, 2021 and ended on May 18, 2022, when Moscow decreed the expulsion of Italian diplomats and military personnel in response to Mario Draghi's decision. The checks lasted ten days, from November 20 to December 1, 2023. And they relate to the administrative management of the last five years. The first problem concerns self-certifications. For which Vannacci received the service allowance. The money was paid, but inconsistencies emerged between the general's statements and the data found on the passports of his wife and daughters. Which do not coincide with those of the reimbursement requests.

Parties and dinners

Then there are the parties and dinners. The general obtained reimbursement for expenses unduly incurred. He would have in fact organized friendly meetings for the “promotion of the country Italy” in restaurants in Moscow and at his home. Vittorio Parrella, listed as attending these dinners, denied having attended them. And he also questioned the real existence of organized events. Among the reimbursement requests, there is also one which would have taken place in the service accommodation on May 23, 2023, that is to say when the servicemen had already been expelled from Russia. On the same date, furniture and household items were moved from the house.

The BMW

Finally, BMW. Vannacci spent 9,000 euros on the car. Apparently without permission. According to the figures analyzed by the inspectors, “in July 2018, the general staff had authorized the sale of the car before October 31, 2018 and in any case when inefficiencies appeared which could require costly maintenance”. However, Vannacci and his predecessor, General Alfonso Miro, failed to comply with the provisions. It is for this reason that it was decided “for the evaluation of possible profiles of administrative liability and damage to the treasury linked to the expenses incurred” to entrust the file to the Court of Auditors.

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