By John Smith • Published: 20 Sep 2015 • 10:52
Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi enjoys a good bottle of wine
PROSECUTORS in the Ukraine have announced that they intend to lay charges against the head of a winery in Crimea, a breakaway state under Russian control, for allegedly opening a 240-year-old bottle for Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi when the pair visited Crimea on September 12 and 13.
The bottle of 1775 Jerez de la Frontera sherry was apparently opened at Massandra winery by director Yanina Pavlenko at the request of former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi.
The winery was owned by the Ukrainian government prior to annexation of the Crimea by Russia, so any prosecution will be theoretical rather than actual unless Ms Pavlenko voluntarily enters the Ukraine where she is also wanted for treason after she voted in favour of Russian annexation in 2014.
They were shown on Russian TV discussing a bottle of an 1891 wine as well, but it is not known whether this was opened as well. According to prosecutors, the bottle that was opened was worth $90,000 (€80,000).
“This is one of the five bottles that constitute not only Kassandra’s or Crimea’s heritage, but the heritage of all Ukrainian people,” Nazra Kholodnytsky, first deputy prosecutor for Crimea told the Associated Press news agency in Kiev.
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Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews
all that over a bottle of wine!!!!never seen the point of having a bottle just to look atwas it drinkable is my question?????kay
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