Andrea Lucidi, Italian war correspondent, has chosen to ask for political asylum in Russia: “I asked Putin for citizenship to escape European sanctions”. This news, which quickly made the rounds in Russian newspapers, is shaking the world of European information. Collaborator of the International Reporters agency, Lucidi has decided to formalize the request for Russian citizenship to protect himself from the threats of sanctions imposed by the European Union, which would limit his freedom of movement and compromise his journalistic work.
The reporter, who has been living in the Luhansk People’s Republic since 2022, in justifying his decision, underlined that without a Russian passport he would risk being the target of restrictions, becoming vulnerable to further punitive measures. “For two years I have been on the front line documenting the reality of Donbass for the Western public, but now I risk having my Italian passport confiscated,” he declared on Telegram, adding: “I am not a Kremlin agent, but just a journalist who reports the facts”.
Lucidi plans to continue his work within International Reporters, an agency that, although there is no evidence of direct support from Putin, operates in a context that raises questions about its editorial autonomy. The newspaper, which brings together correspondents from conflict areas, is often accused of being close to the positions of the Kremlin, fueling suspicions that its reporting reflects a pro-Russian narrative.
In an interview with TASS on November 4, the Italian reporter reiterated that the EU was threatening sanctions that would prevent him from travelling, thus pushing him to seek protection through Russian citizenship. As reported by Vedemosti and Gazeta.ru, the journalist even forwarded a direct letter to President Vladimir Putin to formalize his request.
Lucidi’s decision triggered a real media earthquake in Europe. As reported by the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravdathe Italian journalist fears not only the sanctions already threatened by Brussels, but also further retaliation coming from Kiev. “I ended up in the political crosshairs because of my reporting on the Ukrainian conflict,” Lucidi said, highlighting how his position has made him a target both for the West and for the Ukrainian authorities, intent on silencing critical voices.
His statements also found wide resonance in other Russian newspapers, such as Argumenty i Fakty (AIF.ru), where he reiterated: “I will not return to Italy. Russia is now my second home. I want to give my contribution to the fight against fascism, since I am a convinced anti-fascist.”. Lucidi also highlighted that a possible return to his homeland would entail the risk of arrest and the blocking of his bank accounts, making his situation even more critical.
Lucidi’s case is not an isolated episode. His compatriot Daniel Martinelli had also previously expressed his intention to move permanently to Russia, trying to build a new life away from Western pressure. Similarly, the Finnish Johan Bäckman and the American John Robles, known for their critical positions towards the West, have recently obtained Russian passports, consolidating their ties with Moscow. Robles, in particular, is actively involved in providing humanitarian support to Russian forces in conflict zones.
Another significant case is that of Angelo Giuliano, an Italian financial analyst who, last July, after attending the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, declared on X: “I ask for asylum in Russia, I don’t want to be part of this country”. According to Giuliano, the atmosphere during the event was the catalyst for such a radical decision.
Freedom of the press or propaganda? Andrea Lucidi’s decision has sparked opposing reactions: in Europe, he is stigmatized as a “traitor”, while in Russia he is hailed as a symbol of resistance against the dominant narrative of the West. His statements, together with those of figures such as Johan Bäckman and John Robles, highlight a growing trend: intellectuals and journalists who look to Russia as a refuge, a place where they can practice their profession without the political pressures and censorship that they receive in their countries of origin. This trend seems to reveal an increasingly polarized panorama, where the search for freedom of expression leads some to seek refuge precisely where, paradoxically, the boundaries between information and propaganda become more blurred.
In fact, the accusations against Lucidi are nothing new. Already in the past, an Italian newspaper had labeled him, together with his colleague Vincenzo Lorusso, as “Kremlin propagandist”. In response to these criticisms, Andrea Lucidi recalled an emblematic episode: the vice-president of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, had publicly shown a photo of herself taken in Soledar, a city in the Donetsk oblast, in which she was wearing badges with the letter Z, used by Russian forces. Accused of being a foreign agent, Lucidi replied: “I have worked for the Italian media for years, I have covered conflicts in Lebanon and Syria. Nothing has changed in my approach”.
But there’s more. Last November 4, on the International Reporters portal, Lucidi himself denounced further attempts at censorship: “In an article on Linkiesta, Massimiliano Coccia revealed that the Ukrainian government had asked the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to consider sanctions against me and my colleague Vincenzo Lorusso for our work in Russia. Tajani reiterated that Italy only applies international or European Union sanctions, but it seems that Ukraine is trying to involve the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy in this campaign. Furthermore, among the supporters of this request, there would also be Pina Picierno, Coccia’s wife”.
Lucidi then concluded: “This situation raises serious concerns about the state of press freedom and the independence of journalism. The idea that political pressures can influence the work of journalists is disturbing and undermines the very foundations of democratic societies”.
The Italian reporter’s choice to address Putin directly risks further worsening relations between Russia and the West. In a period in which the Kremlin seems intent on welcoming figures capable of supporting its own narrative, Lucidi’s story opens a new chapter in what is increasingly shaping up as a war fought also on the disinformation front. It remains to be seen whether his decision will affect the fate of other journalists seeking refuge from political pressure. Meanwhile, the world watches with apprehension as this intricate power play intensifies in an increasingly tense geopolitical context.
