Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev 'has promised Wagner $15million if it assassinates Italy's defence minister'
- Il Foglio paper said Italy's intelligence service intercepted Medvedev's order
- Medvedev was president between 2008 and 2012 and a former prime minister
Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev offered a $15 million bounty to kill Italy's defence minister Guido Crosetto, a newspaper is claiming.
Italian Il Foglio newspaper said the country's intelligence service intercepted an order from Medvedev - a former Kremlin president - to private military company Wagner.
Medvedev - deputy head of Russia's powerful security council - allegedly ordered this assassination before Crosetto made a statement in which he accused Wagner of contributing to the EU migration crisis by organising the flow of migrants from Africa to Europe.
Medvedev in January publicly branded Crosetto an 'eccentric' and one of 'countless fools in the power structures of Europe'.
The newspaper reported that other intelligence services in France and Poland had also expressed concern over Medvedev's alleged order to Wagner.
Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev (pictured) offered a $15 million bounty to kill Italy's defence minister Guido Crosetto, according to a newspaper claim
Medvedev in January publicly branded Crosetto (pictured) an 'eccentric' and one of 'countless fools in the power structures of Europe'
It also claimed that Wagner has several cells in Europe, including Serbia and Estonia.
The report stated: 'There is a real threat that the Kremlin is against the Italian Defence Minister, with a bounty on his head - $15 million.
'This, at least, is the reporting that came to the top of the government by our intelligence.'
Medvedev was a long time Russian prime minister and president between 2008 and 2012, a four year period when Putin acted as PM.
The report said Medvedev could hold right-of-centre Crosetto responsible for a supposed Italian betrayal of Russia which had helped Rome during its hour of need.
The minister from NATO country Italy warned of the need for a strong defence of Ukraine to prevent World War III.
He has been defence minister since October.
There are suspicions that Medvedev is again eyeing the top job if Putin quits due to ill-health of political turmoil caused by fallout from the war.
Medvedev, normally prolific on social media, has not responded to the Il Foglio report.
There are suspicions that Medvedev is again eyeing the top job if Putin quits (pictured together in 2020)
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