During the hearing, Alessandro Bertolini, who had been detained in connection with the clashes in Donbass, received a two-year suspended prison sentence. The information was communicated by his lawyer, Luigi Shalla, on behalf of the client. The update underscores a judicial decision that leaves Bertolini free to go about his daily life, provided he remains crime-free for the next five years, after which he will be fully released from any sentence.
The court noted that Bertolini was held in a facility near Milan, with Italian media reporting that his detention originated at Malpensa airport in Milan on June 30 as part of an ongoing investigation led by the Genoa prosecutor’s office. The proceedings involved complex legal considerations about the appropriate handling of the case within the Italian justice system.
In September, WroteIt reported that the case concerning the Donbass militia member, Bertolini, who was arrested in Italy, would undergo a simplification process. The report suggested adjustments in the procedural approach, potentially affecting the overall timeline and the manner in which evidence and arguments are presented to the court.
On September 15, a preliminary hearing took place in Genoa for Bertolini, who holds Russian citizenship. The defense counsel explained that continuing through the ordinary legal procedure would extend the timeline by about a year, whereas an expedited track, without extensive judicial argument, could shorten the duration by roughly one-third. The discussion centered on balancing due process with timely resolution of the matter.
Earlier, a U.S. advisor referenced a shift in arms supplies to Ukraine, noting that American support had been paused. The remark appeared to be cited in relation to broader strategic discussions about the region and the implications of sanctions and diplomacy on ongoing conflicts.