Meloni dismisses the Almasri case. "But a trial will be requested for Piantedosi, Nordio, and Mantovano."
The Tribunal of Ministers has just notified the prime minister that it has closed its investigation into the Libyan general's release, "late and after unjustifiable leaks," Meloni says. "It's absurd to claim that the ministers acted without consulting me."
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Giorgia Meloni's position on the Almasri case , which has shaken Italian politics for months, has been shelved . The Tribunal of Ministers has just notified the Prime Minister of the measure. The judicial matter also includes the Prime Minister, two ministers—Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio —and the Undersecretary to the Prime Minister's Office, Alfredo Mantovano , responsible for intelligence. While Meloni's position has been shelved, it appears the other members of the government will be asked for authorization to proceed. Or at least that's what the Prime Minister infers, having publicly commented on the news in a lengthy post on social media.
Meloni denounced the length and manner of the judicial proceedings , calling the leaks that preceded the official notification "unjustifiable." Meloni vigorously contested the Court's ruling, which emphasized in its decree that she was neither previously informed nor agreed with the decision to release and repatriate Libyan General Osama Almasri, indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and torture. According to the Court, therefore, the two ministers Piantedosi and Nordio, and Undersecretary Mantovano, acted independently without involving the Prime Minister, a move Meloni called "patently absurd." Meloni reiterated that "this government acts cohesively under my leadership" and that every important decision is "agreed upon" within the executive branch. She therefore found the request to only try the ministers and the Undersecretary, without involving her, inconsistent. "On the merits," he added, "I reiterate the correctness of the entire executive's actions, which had as its sole compass the protection of the safety of Italians." He promised to present his version of events to Parliament, alongside the other suspects, when the authorization to proceed is voted on.
Today I was notified of the order from the Tribunal of Ministers for the Almasri case: more than six months after its initiation, compared to the three months required by law, and after unjustifiable leaks.
The judges have archived my only position, while from… pic.twitter.com/g0cK6JjbxJ
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) August 4, 2025
The Almasri case arose following the arrest in Turin, in early 2025, of Libyan General Osama Njeem Almasri , accused by the International Criminal Court of crimes against humanity, including torture and abuse of migrants in Libya. Released just two days after his arrest , without following the international surrender protocols required by the ICC, Almasri was swiftly repatriated to Libya on an Italian government flight .
The investigation, coordinated by the Rome prosecutor's office, focused primarily on the possible involvement of high-level government officials . Lawyer Luigi Li Gotti filed a complaint that led to Prime Minister Meloni, Ministers Piantedosi and Nordio, and Undersecretary Mantovano being placed under investigation. The four are charged with aiding and abetting and embezzlement, and Nordio is also charged with failure to perform official duties. It is alleged that the decision to repatriate Almasri and the failure to submit the request for his international arrest to the Court facilitated the general's release without a fair trial, in violation of Italy's obligations to the ICC.
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