Italy's League denounces suggestion of Russia funding
ROME (AP) — Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has publicly called for Italians to press the League party to reveal if it received financing from Russia, a sign of how the right-wing, pro-Moscow party's rise to power has alarmed some in Europe.
The League denounced Soros' comments, delivered Sunday at an economic forum in northern Italy, saying it "never received a lira, euro or ruble from Russia." But League leader Matteo Salvini, Italy's interior minister, called President Vladimir Putin "one of the best statesman.