Greetings, dear readers of our site! An unexpected and sensational event has occurred in the world of diplomacy. The former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to our country, Pergabriele Papadia de Bottini di Sant-Aneze, has been arrested by law enforcement agencies in Rome. Zamin.uz reveals the details regarding the exposure of this major corruption scheme.
Hidden scheme and corruption in the visa system
During the investigation, it was revealed that the former ambassador, along with an accomplice, created a system for illegally issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens. Through this scheme, individuals who did not meet the requirements for entry into Italy obtained long-term tourist visas ranging from one to three years. The diplomat demanded between 4,000 and 16,000 euros from each client for his "services," despite the official fee being only 45–60 euros.
Moscow agencies and forged documents
This illegal activity was carried out through three travel agencies located at the same address in Moscow: "Happy Travel," "Visa4you," and "Park Lane." At least 95 Russian citizens entered Italy with the help of these intermediaries. It was found that most applicants did not reside in the consular district, documents were signed by other persons, and visas were issued without the personal presence of the holders.
Inspection in Tashkent and exposed fraud
This criminal network was exposed in July 2025 during an audit conducted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the embassy in Tashkent. Investigators found that in 81 cases, the names of Russians who received visas were missing from the embassy's visitor log. Most interestingly, Papadia personally reviewed these illegal applications, marking them with an "OK" and his initials.
Bulgarian bank account and a "secret" partner
Tracing the money, investigators discovered that 23,600 euros were transferred to a bank account in Bulgaria in early 2025. These funds were officially listed as a "loan with interest." The account holder turned out to be Tatyana Tarakanova, a dual citizen of Russia and Italy. She had previously worked with Papadia in Moscow, and the ambassador later hired her for the visa section in Tashkent.
Flight risk and 3 million euro inheritance
The former ambassador is currently in custody. This measure was taken due to his attempt to obtain a Russian visa shortly before his arrest, indicating a risk of flight. Prosecutors and the financial police are currently investigating the diplomat's assets, valued at 3 million euros. Papadia himself claims he inherited this wealth.
Dear readers of our site, how much do you think such corruption by high-ranking diplomats affects the reputation of international relations? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Continue following the latest and most sensational news Zamin.uz on our website.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
