Ukrainian deputy foreign minister, Italian ambassador discuss Markiv case

"The First Deputy Foreign Minister underscored the sensitivity of this issue in Ukrainian society, as well as the attention paid to it by the leadership of the state. In this regard, Emine Dzheppar expressed the expectation that justice would be ensured during the ongoing appeal process and Vitaliy Markiv would return to his homeland,” the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

As reported, on May 25, a group of experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise and the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute conducted a crime re-enactment in the town of Slovyansk within the National Police’s criminal investigation into the murder of Italian photographer Andrea Rocchelli and his Russian interpreter Andrei Mironov on May 24, 2014.

In summer of 2017, Ukraine’s National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv was detained in Italy on charges of alleged involvement in the murder of Andrea Rocchelli and Andrei Mironov. They died as a result of a mortar shelling at the foot of the Karachun Mountain near Slovyansk town on May 24, 2014. At that time, the territory in Donetsk region was controlled by the militants.

On July 12, a court in the Italian town of Pavia sentenced Ukraine’s National Guard member Vitaliy Markiv to 24 years in prison. Markiv's lawyers called the sentence "political" and declared the intention to file the appeal. Later, the lawyers said the court of appeal could deliver its judgment in the spring of 2020.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine to make every effort for returning Markiv to the homeland.

During the meeting, Emine Dzheppar also said that Ukraine considered Italy as an important political and economic partner and viewed the country's compliance with the sanctions regime as a confirmation of non-recognition of the occupation of Ukrainian territories.

"Emine Dzheppar stressed that Ukraine considered Italy as an important political and economic partner and thanked for the support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and state sovereignty. She stressed that compliance with the sanctions regime against Russia was the main confirmation of the policy of non-recognition of the occupation of the Ukrainian territories," the statement reads.

As noted, the importance of further cooperation between the parties on the principles of international law was underscored during the meeting in order to effectively counter attempts to spread misinformation and terrorism, including the activities of fake NGOs in Italy which pretend to be so-called representations of republics with a view to legitimize the occupation of eastern Ukraine.

Davide La Cecilia emphasized Italy's interest in deepening economic and investment cooperation with Ukraine and noted the positive efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to implement reforms and achieve economic and financial stability.

The Italian ambassador declared his country's support for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The interlocutors welcomed the dynamics of Ukraine-Italy political dialogue and reaffirmed their readiness to exchange high-level visits after the lifting of restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ambassador of Italy thanked the Ukrainian side for providing humanitarian assistance to Italy to counter COVID-19.

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