Maltese 'diplomatic' car in Moscow crash - ministry denial
A Russian Orthodox priest has crashed a car in Moscow reportedly bearing Maltese embassy number plates, but the Maltese authorities are insisting that the car never belonged to the Maltese diplomatic service.
The crash occurred at the end of last month but was reported in the Russian media yesterday.
The priest was apparently drunk when he crashed the BMW convertible. Efforts to remove the number plates were reportedly made soon after the crash.
The owner of a Volkswagen Touareg that was damaged as a result of the crash, refused an offer of compensation of 350,000 roubles by friends of the priest.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the car used to belong to a Russian man employed in the Maltese consulate. The car never belonged to the embassy and never had diplomatic number plates.
The employee had nothing to do with the incident and was elsewhere at the time, a ministry spokesman said.
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12 Comments
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john vernon
Aug 15th 2012, 17:59
I wasnt there i didnt do it, it wasnt me, and you cant see the pictures, ha ha a government cover up, it stinks of corruption.
Alfred Farrugia
Aug 15th 2012, 15:51
http://www.rt.com/news/priest-orthodox-crash-car-679/
Alfred Falzon
Aug 15th 2012, 13:46
With all due respect the Ministry's spokesman seems to be mislead in what has been reported. An official press release should clarify matters on:
1: Did the BMW belong to one of our diplomats? If in the affirmative how did the vehicle end up in the hands of third parties?
2: Was the vehicle in question lent out or was it sold?
3: Is any action being taken by MFA on this incident?
Christopher Demicoli
Aug 15th 2012, 12:15
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mobile/news/article/466547.html
Nuff said
Ramon Casha
Aug 15th 2012, 11:12
Why are priests driving Maltese diplomatic cars in Russia in the first place? Is the Maltese government also trying to ingratiate itself with the Russian Patriarchy?
Joe Vella
Aug 15th 2012, 13:02
Ramon, did you read the stroy? I wonder.
M Farrugia
Aug 15th 2012, 13:14
Ramon jekk qrajt l-artiklu sewwa ma kontx tikteb dak li ktibt. Jekk ma tafx taqra bl_ingliz allura tippruvax iddahhaq.
Ramon Casha
Aug 15th 2012, 16:58
Yes I read the story, understood every word, and my question still stands.
O. Tretyak
Aug 15th 2012, 10:20
"Blue rodster BMW Z4 with diplomatic numberplate of Malta 112D007 77. Car belongs to the Vice Ambassador of Malta to Russia, Nicol Sukmandzhiev. He came to the place of accident and confirmed that he personally allowed priest Podobedov to drive that car." - That's what Moscow press says.
M Farrugia
Aug 15th 2012, 13:15
Wiehed jemmen gazzetta kommunista u ma jemminx dak li qal il-ministeru tal-affarijiet barranin. Din hija storja ohra bhal fil-kaz ta RCC
william cauchi
Aug 15th 2012, 10:05
A Russian priest driving a luxurious BMW Z4 convertible, and driving drunk at 5 o'clock in the morning? Nice lifestyle.
Drunk? Must have been to too many early morning masses on an empty stomach.
stephen koludrovic
Aug 15th 2012, 08:26
A BMW convertible car bearing Maltese embassy number plates in Moscow?
One does hope that this was not the official embassy car that the ambassador uses.
Please choose the reason of your report below: