Italy denied plaintiff status in Crans-Montana fire case

The Valais public prosecutor's office has rejected Italy's request to be a plaintiff in the criminal proceedings related to the fatal New Year’s Eve fire in Crans-Montana. Italy has lodged an appeal on the grounds of suffering "direct harm" by the tragedy. The decision was first reported by the Ansa news agency, which quotes a prosecutor’s verdict that "neither the Italian nationality of several victims, nor the expenses incurred by the Italian Republic to assist its citizens (...) are…