Crans-Montana. Massacre in Switzerland, diplomatic pressure from Italy to cooperate in the investigation: the ambassador has been recalled. Meanwhile, the Italian judiciary is preparing a task force to be sent to Crans-Montana.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has recalled the Italian ambassador to Rome. His return is conditional on judicial authorities collaborating to determine who is responsible for the fire in Crans-Montana.
Following the release of Jacques Moretti from prison, decided by the Coercive Measures Tribunal in Sion, Italy is proceeding through diplomatic channels to push Switzerland to effectively cooperate in the investigation into the New Year's Eve massacre.
A note released by Palazzo Chigi explains the reasons for the gesture.
President Giorgia Meloni "received today at Palazzo Chigi the Italian Ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, who was recalled to Rome, in agreement with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in light of the decision of the Tribunal of Coercive Measures in Sion to order the release of Jacques Moretti."
"At the meeting, which was also attended by Undersecretary of State Alfredo Mantovano and State Attorney General Gabriella Palmieri Sandulli," the statement reads, "it was decided to make the Ambassador's return to Switzerland conditional on the initiation of effective collaboration between the judicial authorities of the two countries and the immediate establishment of a joint investigative team to ascertain, without further delay, those responsible for the Crans-Montana massacre of January 1, 2026."
The Rome Prosecutor's Office has sent a letter of inquiry: a task force of investigators is ready.
Meanwhile, the Rome Prosecutor's Office, as part of the ongoing investigation into the massacre, is ready to send a team of investigators—composed of officers from the Flying Squad—to support their Swiss counterparts in the investigation. The request is included in the letter rogatory sent a few days ago to the magistrates of Sion, who are investigating the fire that caused 40 deaths, including six Italians. The Rome prosecutors are also expected to travel to Switzerland by February to meet with local magistrates.
In the letter rogatory, the investigators request the release of all the investigative activity carried out to date, including documentation relating to the authorizations obtained in the past by the local Costellation, the checks carried out by local authorities, and the implementation status of accident prevention and safety regulations.
Currently, the case open at Piazzale Clodio, which also includes allegations of manslaughter and manslaughter causing disaster, is against unknown persons. Once the documents arrive from Switzerland, the first suspects will be registered, including the managers, Jacques Moretti and his wife, Jessica.
The lawyer for the victims' families: "Moretti released from prison, there is a risk of evidence tampering."
Nicolas Mattenberger, the lawyer representing some of the victims' families, is skeptical about the Italian authorities' actual participation in the investigation.
"The Swiss Code of Criminal Procedure does not allow Italy to be a civil party in the proceedings and to follow the investigation. The magistrates cannot do this," Mattenberger said. The lawyer, however, hopes for a change of pace from the Sion prosecutor's office in the investigation: "Does the Canton of Valais have the tools to investigate this catastrophe? For now, I'm skeptical. I believe there are measures that should have been taken, such as searches," he explains.
Regarding the release of Jacques Moretti, owner of the Constellation with his wife, Jessica Maric, where 40 people died, including 6 Italian youths, and 116 were injured, Mattenberger explains: "I am astonished that Moretti was released, also because of the risk of tampering with evidence and collusion: he could have had direct contact with witnesses to get them to change their stories. I am astonished that this risk was not raised by the prosecutor, as well as the risk of escape."
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Comments (1)
The article presents a complex and very serious situation. Collaboration between Italy and Switzerland is essential to clarify who is responsible for this tragic event. I hope the authorities will act quickly and effectively to achieve a solution.