Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the resignation of her diplomatic adviser, the victim of a telephone hoax by two Russian comedians posing as African Union officials. “This morning, my diplomatic advisor Francesco Talò presented his resignation,” declared Ms. Meloni during a press conference after the Council of Ministers, regretting that this matter had been “treated lightly” and had “exposed the nation “.
Mr. Talò, a career diplomat who was notably Italian ambassador to NATO as well as to Israel, “took responsibility for it,” she declared. “We have received at least 80 such phone calls and I regret that this misstep calls into question everything that has been done. I thank him as well as the diplomatic services,” she added.
Ms. Meloni’s services confirmed this Wednesday, November 1, that she had had a telephone conversation with a duo of Russian comedians who had posed as senior officials of the African Union Commission.
During this conversation in English, recorded in mid-September but broadcast on social networks this week, Ms. Meloni spoke of “a form of weariness on all sides” of the international community in the face of the war in Ukraine.
Russian comedians Vladimir Kouznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, known as “Vovan” and “Lexus,” are famous for mentoring world leaders and celebrities, from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , including star Elton John.
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