Andrea Costantini (from radio Freedom)
Emirates: the Costantino case is unlocked, the entrepreneur has returned to Italy
The story of the entrepreneur Andrea Costantino, who was stuck in the Emirates after being released from prison in the Gulf country and who for months lived in an outbuilding of our embassy in Abu Dhabi, has been unblocked. Costantino spoke live on Radio Libertà. “I thank Matteo Salvini, Vignali (Luigi, director general for Italians abroad of the Farnesina, ed) and the ambassador (Italian in Abu Dhabi)”, said Costantino in his speech, during which he also wanted to thank ” enormously” all radio listeners who called and texted during this time.
The Italian entrepreneur, born in Milan on 14 September 1972, was arrested on charges of financing terrorism in Yemen on 21 March in a hotel in Dubai, where he was staying with his family, after returning to the United Arab Emirates for renew the expiring residence visa. After being released from the maximum security prison of Al Wathba last May thanks to the mediation of Italian diplomats, the trader lived in an annex of the Italian embassy because the UAE authorities had confiscated his passport preventing him from leaving the country.
“I personally dealt with the Costantino affair”, “we are doing everything possible for a positive solution”, declared the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, on 13 December before the Foreign Affairs commissions of the Chamber and the Senate, referring to the businessman’s affair. “We don’t leave any Italian citizen alone,” Tajani assured.
Emirates: Palazzo Chigi, ‘satisfaction with the success of the Constantine affair’
“The Presidency of the Council expresses its satisfaction that, on this Christmas Eve, the Italian entrepreneur Andrea Costantino returned to Italy and was able to embrace his loved ones again. Thanks in particular to the Foreign Minister and the Farnesina network, the Information Services and security and the Emirates Authorities for the success of the matter”. This is what can be read in a note from the Prime Minister.
Emirates: Constantine, ‘I still don’t realize, it’s indescribable to see my daughter again after 2 years’
“I still have to realize that I’m finally in Italy. I’m still in a bubble and I don’t realize it. But seeing my wife Stefania and my daughter at the airport after two years was something indescribable”. This is how the entrepreneur Andrea Costantino tells Adnkronos of his return to Italy, blocked in the Emirates after being released from prison in the Gulf country and who for months lived in an annexe of the embassy in Abu Dhabi. “My daughter brought me a frame with a drawing where she wrote ‘how nice you are here’ – says Costantino – finding her again was a fantastic feeling after so many difficult moments”.
Emirates: Constantine, ‘horrible detention Abu Dhabi among rats, thanks to those who have found a solution’
Constantine spent fifteen months in Abu Dhabi prison. “The detention was more than horrible – recalls the entrepreneur – I was bitten by rats, detained in a cell of 4 with 14 other people, food was given to us on the floor. I only saw my lawyer once in a more than a year in prison. An indelible experience in the negative sense of the term”. Then the period spent in the annex of the Italian embassy until his return this morning at Malpensa at 7. “I thank all those who worked to bring me home – Costantino is keen to say – from the general director for Italians abroad of the Farnesina Luigi Maria Vignali, the Italian ambassador Lorenzo Fanara, to Matteo Salvini: in the end she was found this technical solution that allowed me to be at home on Christmas Eve and embrace my loved ones again”.
The future? “I want to spend as much time as possible with my family, then I’ll have to get back on my feet and work. In the meantime – she says – I’m enjoying these moments of pure joy”.
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