Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has been acquitted in a criminal kidnapping case stemming from an incident in August 2019. The case involved Salvini's decision to prevent a migrant vessel from docking in Italy, leaving it stranded at sea. The judge ruled that 'the facts do not exist,' clearing Salvini of any wrongdoing.
The incident occurred when Salvini, who was serving as the interior minister at the time, blocked a Spanish-flagged NGO rescue boat, carrying 147 asylum seekers, from docking in Sicily. The migrants were left at sea in harsh conditions for 19 days before a court intervened and allowed them to come ashore. Children and vulnerable individuals onboard were airlifted to safety during the ordeal.
Salvini defended his actions by citing national security concerns and the government's efforts to combat irregular immigration by sea. The case gained international attention, with actor Richard Gere providing aid to the stranded vessel while on vacation in Italy.
Elon Musk expressed support for Salvini, calling it 'crazy' that he was being tried for 'defending Italy.' Salvini, in response, reiterated his commitment to protecting Italy's borders and ensuring freedom and security for the country and Europe.
Prosecutors argued that Salvini had overstepped his authority as interior minister, contending that there were no valid national security reasons for preventing the migrants from disembarking. Despite the legal battle, Salvini expressed pride in his actions and vowed to continue his fight against mass immigration.
The verdict comes amid the Italian government's efforts to send migrants to Albania for processing, a plan that has faced legal challenges. The legality of the Albanian processing centers, which have incurred significant costs for Italian taxpayers, is now under review by the European Court of Justice.
