Free Trieste

UPDATE: in July 2017 the Court declared that Free Trieste’s demonstration was not subversive, read more HERE

Trieste, June 26th, 2014. – Public Prosecutor Federico Frezza, already involved in actions and declarations against the Free Trieste Movement, incriminated the organization’s President, Roberto Giurastante and 18 (actual and former) volunteers.

The accusation follows a February 10th [2014] sit-in. During the demonstration, they protested the Italian politician’s attempt to force a massive, building and housing private speculation on Trieste’s Northern Free Port. The speculation is under anti-mafia question.

During the sit-in, about 400 people guarded the two free-access gaps in the port’s customary barrier. The gaps are open under a Decree of the Commissioner of the Government, a decision that facilitates a private speculation. It’s years that Free Trieste is denouncing this illegal operation.

The sit-in lasted from 3pm to midnight, under a cold winter rain.

The Free Trieste Movement demands that, in compliance with the 1947 Peace Treaty and the 1954 MoU, the international legal status of both Trieste and its port be fully enforced. Indeed, Trieste is a UN Member State, currently under the Italian Government’s temporary, civil administration (special trusteeship). This does also mean that Trieste is not under Italian sovereignty, and has the right to its own taxation.

Furthermore, Free Trieste informed of the sit-in not only to the administering Italian Government and the local police office, but also other competent authorities, including the UN.

In particular, Free Trieste underlined that the international Free Port is not under Italian jurisdiction, therefore, the inner street does not belong in municipal viability.

The Movement had also presented the sit-in and its legal bases to the public with rallies and press conferences open to the public.

However, Public Prosecutor Frezza is charging 19 of the 400 protesters with different crimes: “duress” for allegedly preventing four cars from accessing the port’s internal street, “seditious gathering” and “subversive” demonstration for joining a group of more than 10 people in order to “riot”. The accusation is based on the fact that neither they nor Free Trieste recognize the sovereignty of the Italian State over Trieste.

Finally, the Public Prosecutor alleges “unauthorized and unannounced protest” claiming that the Italian police was not properly informed about the sit-in.

The Public Prosecutor does also “offer” the incriminated people to avoid the trial spending one month in prison, none in case they have no previous criminal records.

Free Trieste answers back considering that the accusations have no legal ground, they are of political nature. The demonstration had indeed been announced, and it a democracy, questioning Italian sovereignty over Trieste is a perfectly legitimate action.

Furthermore, provisions regarding “seditious gathering” and “subversive demonstrations” belongs in the repressive Fascist legislation, and enforcing it today is absolutely unacceptable.

In consideration of all of this, Free Trieste, its supporters, and President Roberto Giurastante are standing before Court with their heads up. They are going to use the trial as a new, victorious legal action against the violations of the rights of the people of the Free Territory of Trieste committed by the Italian State and its Governments.