Former Italian ambassador to Uzbekistan arrested over alleged Schengen visa scheme

A former Italian ambassador to Uzbekistan accused of running an illegal Schengen visa scheme at the Italian embassy in Tashkent has been arrested in Rome.

Source: La Repubblica, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to investigators, while serving as ambassador to Uzbekistan, Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini di Sant'Agnese took control of the visa department and transferred Tatyana Tarakanova there. Tarakanova, who holds Russian and Italian citizenship, had previously worked with him at the Italian consulate in Moscow.

Both are currently under investigation by Rome prosecutors on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and corruption relating to actions contrary to their official duties.

Officers from Italy's Financial Guard have carried out pre-trial measures ordered by Rome investigating judge Annalisa Marzano. Papadia was arrested in Rome and remanded in custody pending the outcome of the investigation. He was suspended from his post in December 2025.

Investigators believe that with Tarakanova's assistance, Papadia organised a system for issuing long-term tourist visas – valid from one to three years – to Russian citizens even when they did not meet the legal requirements for entry into the Schengen Area.

He is said to have charged between €4,000 and €16,000 per person for his services.

Three travel agencies with offices in Moscow were reportedly involved in the scheme. At least 95 Russian citizens are said to have entered Italy through these centres despite not meeting the visa requirements.

Prosecutors and financial police are continuing to investigate around 400 cases and are examining Papadia's declared assets, estimated at around €3 million, which he claims originated from an inheritance.

Background:

• At the end of April, Latvia added three Russian citizens to its blacklist of people banned from entering the country, including former Russian culture minister Mikhail Shvydkoi.
• It was also reported that Lithuania is considering introducing a five-year entry ban for performers who have appeared in Russia or Belarus.

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