Not only the alleged "crazy expenses" when he was the Italian military attaché in Moscow: for General Roberto Vannacci, new legal troubles seem to be looming linked to the book that made him famous, "The world upside down".
The Rome Prosecutor's Office has in fact entered him in the register of suspects for the accusation of incitement to racial hatred.
The proceeding was initiated in light of complaints filed in recent months by some associations.
A series of statements in the self-published book came under the scrutiny of the investigators and became, in fact, a case, with 200 thousand copies sold.
An editorial success that led Vannacci to publish a new literary effort.
In particular, one of the complaints was brought to the attention of the prosecutors by an association assisted by the lawyer, Massimiliano Strampelli.
The subject of the complaint are some passages of the book and in particular those in which Vannacci defines homosexuals as "not normal" or when he cites an episode experienced in Paris in which he refers to people of color.
"I wrote a book in which I expressed opinions: perhaps criticizable for some, but they remain so. I believe that in 2023 opinions will be fought on the level of arguments and not with censorship or in the courts",
comments the general.
And his lawyer, Giorgio Carta, ironically adds:
"The only incitement made is to reflection and reading. No incitement to hatred.
Galileo Galilei was also tried for his ideas but 300 years later he was 'acquitted'. We hope, based on personal data, to resolve this matter sooner."
For the other lawyer who defends him, the lawyer Massimiliano Manzo, Vannacci "never in the book claims that one race is superior to another, but simply limits himself to criticizing an excessive extreme multiculturalism which, as we have seen, can sometimes cause even very serious problems."
In any case, this is another setback for the general after the proceedings initiated by the ordinary judiciary, in which the crime of fraud on expenses in Moscow is contested, which runs in parallel with that initiated by the military prosecutor's office.
Files opened after an inspection carried out by the Defense General Staff.
An activity that could also end up before the judges of the Court of Auditors.
Based on what we understand, the news of the crime was transmitted to Piazzale Clodio over twenty days ago.
The investigation concerns the service allowance for family members received illicitly (because his wife and daughters would not have been in Moscow in the period considered), an expense of 9 thousand euros linked to the company car which would not have been authorised, reimbursements for the organization of events and dinners that in reality would not have taken place.
The period examined by the ministerial inspectors is between February 2021 and May 2022. Then Vannacci was expelled from the Kremlin together with 23 other Italian diplomats and military experts, in response to the similar move by the Draghi government after the invasion of Ukraine.
The inspectors' checks also took into account some reports made by the colonel who, starting from 2023, will cover Vannacci's role at the Defense headquarters in Moscow.
The senior officer reported a series of "anomalies and critical issues in the administrative management of his predecessor".
This investigation, which like the new case for incitement to racial hatred, does not however seem to represent an obstacle to his candidacy in the next European elections in the ranks of the League.
The Northern League, which had already defended the general two days ago, stands firm and does not mince words when speaking of "investigations that are medals".
And again: "old methods of the old system. Forward general, forward together, forward Italy!".
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