Former Italian ambassador arrested over alleged Russian visa scheme

Rome — An Italian former ambassador to Uzbekistan has been arrested as part of an investigation into an alleged scheme that allowed Russian nationals to obtain long term Italian visas using forged documentation, prosecutors in Rome said on Monday.

Piergabriele Papadia De Bottini and his former collaborator Tatiana Tarakanova are under investigation for alleged corruption and facilitating illegal immigration following a probe led by the Guardia di Finanza and the Rome public prosecutor’s office.

Investigators believe that at least 95 Russian citizens entered Italy irregularly between December 2024 and July 2025 using multi year tourist visas allegedly issued on the basis of falsified documents while the pair were working at the Italian embassy in Tashkent.

According to prosecutors, the true number could be significantly higher. Checks were carried out on 170 visa applications from a total of around 400 issued during the period under examination.

The inquiry began after an inspection by Italy’s foreign ministry at the embassy in July 2025 identified unusually high numbers of visa applications from Russian nationals applying through Uzbekistan despite European Union restrictions introduced following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

European guidelines issued in 2022 urged member states not to process visa applications from Russian citizens applying in third countries where they were not resident.

Investigators allege that forged supporting documents, including manipulated financial receipts, were used to secure visas valid for two or three years with multiple entries into the Schengen area. Applications were allegedly channelled through Moscow based travel agencies, some of which communicated directly with the ambassador through Telegram.

Prosecutors have not accused the suspects of espionage, but investigators are continuing checks to determine whether any of the individuals who entered Italy may have carried out intelligence related activities on behalf of Moscow.

The investigation also alleges that Papadia De Bottini centralised control of the embassy’s visa office, sidelining ordinary oversight procedures and relying on a small circle of trusted collaborators.

Italian media reported that investigators obtained an audio recording in which a foreign ministry official confronted the diplomat over the alleged scheme. In the recording, Papadia De Bottini reportedly denied acting as “a Russian agent” before allegedly suggesting financial motives behind the operation.

Authorities are also examining claims that the former ambassador may have received substantial sums for each visa application processed, although prosecutors have not confirmed the amounts involved.

One detail emerging from the investigation attracted particular attention in Italy: prosecutors allege that after learning he was under scrutiny, the diplomat searched for information on how to seek political asylum in Russia.

Papadia De Bottini, questioned by prosecutors earlier this year, has denied the allegations, particularly the corruption charges.

The Rome prosecutor’s office said investigations are continuing to establish the full scale of the operation and to identify all those who may have entered Italy through the alleged scheme.

PS