Yegor Bozhok stated that the situation with the decision of the regional Italian court of Pavia on the case of National Guard soldier Vitaliy Markiv, who has been unfairly accused of the killing of an Italian photographer Andrea Rocchelli on 24 May 2014 at the fire line in Donbass near the city of Slavyansk, had a significant negative impact on the Ukrainian society and it was brought to the attention of the President of Ukraine.

Acting Foreign Minister stressed that Ukraine expects Italian authorities to conduct comprehensive and unbiased investigation of the circumstances of the death of Andrea Rocchelli, particularly during the coming appeal proceedings. It was once again emphasized that Ukraine is ready to provide necessary legal assistance to Italy to prove groundlessness of the accusations against Vitaliy Markiv.

Ambassador of Italy Davide La Cecilia said that he would immediately communicate the position of Ukraine’s authorities to the Italian Government. However, he could not comment the decision of the Italian court before its official publication as the judicial branch of power is independent.