Italian officer sentenced to 20 years in prison for spying for Russia

An officer of her Armed Forces Italywho was arrested in 2021 and charged with espionage for her benefit of Russiawas sentenced on Friday by a court in Rome to serve 20 years in prison, his lawyer told AFP.

The case had caused a scandal and a diplomatic crisis, with Rome proceeding to expel two Russian diplomats, with Moscow responding by expelling an Italian diplomat.

Walter Biot, 58, frigate captain who worked in the general staff of national defensein the Italian capital, was arrested on his own in March 2021, following surveillance as a parking lot where handed over documents to a Russian military intelligence officer in exchange for €5,000.

Mr. Biot will appeal his conviction and in the sentence, delivered yesterday in a closed-door hearing following his trial for espionage, disclosure of state secrets related to national security and corruption.

Another appeal against his previous conviction is pending —30 years in prison— by court-martial in March 2023.

“We have two processes (in progress) at the same time”emphasized the defense attorney of the accused Roberto de Vita, which he described as “unprecedented”.

Italy's highest appeals court is expected to finally decide which of the two convictions will be applied to his client's case, he clarified.

Military prosecutors, who asked that the officer be sentenced to life in prison, pointed out that the 19 documents that Walter Biot had photographed with his mobile phone were classified “NATO confidential” of which one was “top secret”according to the ANSA news agency.

After his arrest, his wife had told the Italian press that the officer needed money, as his salary (€3,000 a month) was not enough to cover the needs of his four children, one of whom has special needsand his four dogs.

“He is not stupid, nor irresponsible. He was just desperate.”had argued.