Italy calls for an end to the investigation of aggression against journalists – 05/11/2023 – Power

The Italian Public Prosecutor’s Office, a body equivalent to the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, asked for the closure of an investigation into the aggression against accredited journalists that occurred during a visit by former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to Rome in 2021.

According to the agency, the videos made available by the reporters who accompanied the then president and who were attacked are not sufficient to identify the aggressors and there are no other additional elements for the continuation of the investigation.

The Attorney General’s Office also highlighted in the decision on archiving that, in the security protocol adopted in visits by foreign presidents, there is mixing between Italian police personnel and security agents at the Brazilian embassy, ​​in addition to, according to the institution, “precise rules of performance aimed at the personal safety of the guest”.

The filing request refers to complaints filed by journalists Ana Estela de Sousa Pinto, from Folha, and Jamil Chade, from UOL.

In the case of Leonardo Monteiro, a Rede Globo correspondent who said he was punched by an Italian agent, the agency determined the continuation of investigations.

Bolsonaro was in Italy attending the G20 summit, when he decided to take walks in the city followed by supporters, on a Sunday, October 31st.

In the afternoon, when the then president was still inside the Brazilian embassy, ​​an agent who did not want to be identified pushed the reporter Ana Estela de Sousa Pinto, asking her to leave the place.

The journalists then headed to the back of the embassy to await Bolsonaro’s departure, with new attacks on press professionals, prevented from transiting through the place by security, who tried to make a chain of protection while Bolsonaro left at a tight pace towards the wide Argentina.

When the reporter Sheet began to film the aggression against Monteiro, an agent tried to take her cell phone, threatening her.

Journalist Jamil Chade also had his cell phone taken while trying to film, and reporters from O Globo Lucas Ferraz and BBC News Brasil Matheus Magenta were offended and pushed. Magenta got punched in the back.

The security guards also said they could not be filmed and refused to provide their identification or say if they were regular part of the Italian police. Bolsonaro’s advisors never interceded or asked for calm.

Throughout the journey, Bolsonaro paid no attention to events. When to Sheet asked him why security was attacking the journalists, he stopped, listened to what an aide said in his ear and decided to interrupt the tour and return to the embassy.