Suspect in Leipzig Sabotage Received Visa at Italian Embassy in Minsk
Italian authorities intend to verify information that one of the suspects in the case of the unsuccessful attack on Leipzig/Halle airport could have entered the European Union on an Italian tourist visa, reports Zeit.de.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the necessary checks would be carried out. According to him, visas are issued after verifying applicants' compliance with established requirements and the presence of any potential warnings regarding them.
It was previously reported that German investigators managed to identify two suspects in the case. According to investigations by NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of them could have entered the Schengen zone on an Italian tourist visa.
The document, allegedly, was issued at the end of April at the Italian diplomatic mission in Minsk.
The incident at Leipzig/Halle airport occurred on August 4. In the security zone, among Ukrainian cargo planes, a drone equipped with explosives and a detonation mechanism was found. The German Federal Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation and called the incident a serious attack on the country's transport and logistics infrastructure. According to the latest information, three drones could have been used in the case.
The case also reignited discussions in the EU about the need to strengthen visa restrictions for citizens of Russia and Belarus. The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, stated that if the information is confirmed, it would indicate the possibility of using visas to harm the European Union.
Despite the fact that after the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine, visa rules for citizens of Russia and Belarus have been repeatedly tightened, the consulates of Italy, France, and Spain in Russia continue to issue a large number of Schengen visas. Critics believe that some EU countries do not want to give up lucrative tourist flows.
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