Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has instructed to summon Russian Ambassador Alexei Paramonov to his ministry in connection with the transfer of the Russian subsidiary Ariston under the temporary management of a Gazprom Group company.
"The government is asking for clarification on the nationalisation of Ariston Thermo Group," Tayyani wrote on social media platform X on Saturday, 27 April, adding that the authorities are also working with Brussels and Berlin on this issue.
The day before, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree to transfer 100% of the shares of subsidiaries of Italian Ariston and German BSH Hausgeräte in Russia to the temporary management of Gazprom Domestic Systems.
According to the decree, the Gazprom structure will gain control over all Russian assets of Ariston Thermo Rus LLC and BSH Household Appliances LLC.
Tayani called Moscow's decision unexpected, saying that Rome is ready to defend Italian business in all international markets.
In April 2023, Putin signed a decree providing for the transfer of assets of legal entities and individuals from "unfriendly" states to "temporary management" in the event of the seizure of Russian assets abroad.
In July of the same year, the Russian business of Carlsberg was transferred to Rosimuschestvo for temporary management. A month earlier, the company announced that it had found a buyer for its assets in Russia and signed an agreement with him.
Ariston Group is an Italian company specialising in the production of appliances.