From Italian honors to threats to Rome: who is Paramonov, the new Russian ambassador?

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Sergei Razov ambassador to Italy for ten years, is preparing to leave Villa Abamelek, where he will arrive in a month Alexey Vladimirovich Paramonovwhose appointment was made official in the decree signed by the Russian president Vladimir Putin . And the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella has granted his approval.

Born in 1962, former Russian consul in Milan and until now director of the Europe department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the new ambassador in Rome had risen to the headlines a year ago, for having released to the Ria Novosti news agency, less than a month since the beginning of the war, an interview in which he had spoken of “irreversible consequences” in relations between Rome and Moscow if Italy had adopted other sanctions against Russia. Among other things, defining the then Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini as a “hawk” and the “inspirer” of the anti-Russian campaign in Italy.

The farewell of the «hard» Razov

one wonders what the implications will be for bilateral relations, now at a minimum after the Russian invasion of Ukraine: on paper there is a figure considered moderate, compared to a hawk who has engaged in a bitter duel with the Italian authorities and media , breaking the thread of the traditional friendship between the two countries. Sergey Razov, 70, who has headed the Rome office since 2013, has always said he “loves Italy”, but this hasn’t prevented him from playing the tough guy perfectly after the invasion of Ukraine. He accused the Draghi government and the newspapers of “Russophobia”, “misinformation” (which was followed by a lawsuit against La Stampa, which later fell on deaf ears), and even of “ingratitude” for having forgotten Moscow’s aid during the pandemic. Obtaining in exchange the protests of the Farnesina, which summoned him three times in six months. With the arrival of Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi, the tones of the Russian diplomat have not changed. And he went so far as to accuse Italy of “being part of the conflict” for its supply of arms to Kiev. With the support of a campaign of provocations via social media which was followed by a heated question and answer with the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto.

Paramonov: from moderate tones to ultimatums

In Razov’s place another long-time diplomat will arrive with an excellent knowledge of Italy and the language. The 61-year-old Paramonov established good relations with the Italian economic fabric as consul in Milan from 2008 to 2013 and received two honors: first Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2018), then Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy (2020 ). Titles that recognize “particular merits in the promotion of friendship and collaboration between Italy and other countries and in the promotion of ties with Italy”. Several parties have asked for the decorations to be revoked (as was the case for those conferred on Syrian President Bashar al Assad after the outbreak of the bloody civil war).

Paramonov showed his face more open to dialogue by welcoming the Vatican’s mediation efforts on Ukraine and confirming the open and confidential channel between Moscow and the Holy See (so much so that in recent months he had been preaching to become the Russian ambassador beyond the Tiber in place by Alexander Avdeev). An aspect that makes our diplomacy wish a loosening of the links on visas for our officials waiting to go to Moscow, to strengthen the embassy run by Giorgio Starace, which currently has just five diplomats, after the expulsions of the year last.