A small fire on Wednesday outside the Lake Como villa of a Russian TV anchor close to President Vladimir Putin was likely a "demonstrative act" against the pundit, Italian authorities said.
Vladimir Solovyov's vacation home in the town of Menaggio, on the western side of the popular holiday destination in northern Italy, was seized last month by Italian financial police as part of sweeping Western sanctions on those close to Putin.
Solovyov, a prominent radio and television presenter, is considered the Kremlin's most prolific and enthusiastic propagandist. The villa is currently empty.
"Just one team of firemen put out the fire within a very short time," Como fire chief, Gennaro di Maio, told AFP.
"There is hardly any damage, it was burned tires that gave off visible black smoke," he said.
Menaggio's mayor, Michele Spaggiari, told Italy's AGI news agency that the fire appeared to be "a demonstrative act" causing little or no damage.
Spaggiari said Solovyev bought the property about five years ago.
Solovyev owns two houses on Lake Como that are worth a combined 8 million euros, according to the Italian government that announced the property seizures last month.
Police are investigating anti-Russian graffiti at the second property, Italian state news agency ANSA reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
