A Maltese court found Robert Agius and Jamie Vella guilty of providing the explosives used in the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The two men are the fifth and sixth individuals convicted in connection with the car bombing, which followed Caruana Galizia’s reporting on government corruption. While the Degiorgio brothers are serving lengthy sentences for carrying out the murder, and Vince Muscat received a reduced sentence for his testimony, Yorgen Fenech, allegedly the mastermind, awaits trial. The Caruana Galizia family expressed satisfaction with the verdict but noted that systemic failures enabling the assassination remain unresolved.
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Following a 45-year debate, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela announced Malta will recognize the State of Palestine in June, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a moral imperative. This decision follows Abela’s visit to refugee camps and underscores Malta’s commitment to addressing the conflict’s impact. Simultaneously, the government plans reforms to the Industrial Tribunal and will introduce miscarriage leave, aiming to be a European Union leader in this area. Abela also highlighted advancements in palliative care while criticizing the opposition’s financial transparency.
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Malta’s controversial “golden passport” program, allowing citizenship for investment, has granted passports to at least seven individuals subsequently sanctioned by the US, EU, or Ukraine for their ties to Russia’s war. This includes sanctioned Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan, who obtained citizenship in 2015. While at least one passport has been revoked following a criminal conviction, the program’s continued operation has prompted the European Commission to file a lawsuit against Malta, arguing it undermines the integrity of EU citizenship. The court ruling is pending.
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John Q. Hosedrinker