Venetian National Liberation Movement

The Venetian National Liberation Movement (Movimento di Liberazione Nazionale del Popolo Veneto, MLNV) is a national liberation movement which seeks self-determination for the former territories of the Republic of Venice, currently divided in three Italian regions: Veneto, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.[1][2][3]

The MLNV was founded in September 2009 and is led by Sergio Bortotto.[1] In November 2009 the MLNV was investigated on the charge of having built a paramilitary organization. The Italian police seized weapons at the home of one of the members, and uniforms of the so-called Polisia Veneta (Venetian Police) in the headquarters of the movement in Treviso. According to the police, the group had planned to attack Luca Zaia, a member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.[4] In December 2011, Constitutional Court of Italy ruled that a law that abolished a ban on the formation of paramilitary forces was in accordance with the Constitution of Italy, which meant MLNV could no longer be prosecuted for forming a paramilitary force.[5] In September 2017, all members of the MLNV were acquitted of any accusation because they were determined to be unfounded.[6]

In February 2012, MLNV organised an event in Vicenza to present their plans for Venetian nationalism movement, inviting Venetian nationalist groups to attend.[7] The convention was attended by representatives of the Antonio Guadagnini faction of Veneto State, and activist groups the Venetian Most Serene Government, the Venetian National Government, Self-Government of Venetia, Venetian State and the Friulian Front. The MLNV announced the establishment of the "Provisional Government of the Venetian Republic" (GVP)[8][9] in compliance with art. 96.3 of the Geneva Protocol I.

On 22 January 2015, the GVP signed an agreement recognizing Donetsk People's Republic.[10] On 25 August 2015, the foreign ministry of the Donetsk People's Republic sent a diplomatic note expressing "respect and interest in the development of equal relations and bilateral cooperations" with the GVP.[11][12]

  1. ^ a b "Chi Siamo". Venetian National Liberation Movement. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Perche' Vogliamo L'Indipendenza". Venetian National Liberation Movement. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Il Movimento di Liberazione Nazionale del Popolo Veneto". Radio Veneto Uno.
  4. ^ Cristina, Marrone (7 November 2009). "Pistole e un' imboscata I separatisti contro Zaia". Corriere della Sera.
  5. ^ "La corte costituzionale "assolve" la Polisia". La Tribuna di Treviso. 23 December 2011.
  6. ^ Corriere del Veneto, 8 September 2017 ""Polisia veneta", dopo 8 anni tutti assolti".
  7. ^ "MLNV invita a Vicenza". L'Indipendenza.
  8. ^ Marin, Marino (26 February 2012). "MLNV Ci Prova: 'Costituiamo un Governo Veneto Provvisorio'". MiglioVerde.
  9. ^ "I venetisti ci riprovano: 'Creiamo la nostra polizia'". Corriere del Veneto. 29 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Si consolida la collaborazione col Governo di Donetsk" (in Italian).
  11. ^ "Donetsk People's Republic's diplomatic note to GVP" (in Russian).
  12. ^ "Nota diplomatica del Governo di Donetsk" (in Italian).