MOSCOW 

Russia on Thursday summoned the Italian charge d'affaires Giuseppe Scopa over "an ongoing anti-Russian campaign in the Italian information space."

The Foreign Ministry in a statement said it protested "disproportionate reaction from official Rome regarding Moscow's rejection of certain outrageous statements made by high-ranking representatives of the Italian authorities against Russia."

The Italian side was informed that its mainstream media's "persistent anti-Russian coverage, spread of falsehoods, and support for aggressive rhetoric toward Russia" worsen bilateral ties, the ministry stressed.

"It is precisely this tense atmosphere that enabled the recent cancellation of conductor Valery Gergiev’s performance at the Royal Summer Music Festival in Caserta," it said. Gergiev was scheduled to conduct an Italian orchestra on July 27, but it was cancelled by the organizers.

The counterproductive course aimed at creating an image of Russia as an enemy neither serves the fundamental interests of Italians nor reflects long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual affection between the peoples of Russia and Italy, the ministry added.

Last week, the Italian Foreign Ministry summoned Russian ambassador Alexey Paramonov, and a protest was lodged against the inclusion of President Sergio Mattarella and other Italian officials on the list of alleged “Russophobes.” Rome said it considered the inclusion of the head of state a provocation against the republic and the Italian people.

The move followed the publication of a special section on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry titled “Examples of Using Hate Speech Against Russia and Russophobic Statements by Politicians and Public Figures of Foreign States,” which includes statements by Western and Ukrainian politicians. Among them are remarks by Mattarella, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and other officials.