Walter Biot was a frigate captain in the Italian navy who worked for the Defense Staff, a structure that dealt with the projection of Italian defense assets in foreign operational theaters and the international police of the Italian armed forces under the aegis of NATO, EU, and UN.
He had access to classified and sensitive information, which he allegedly sold to Russian embassy officials in exchange for cash. He was arrested in March 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2024 for espionage and corruption.
Walter Biot Wiki/Bio
| Name | Walter Biot |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | May 23, 1966 |
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Former navy officer |
| Spouse | Claudia Carbonara |
| Children | Four |
| Education | Naval Academy in Livorno |
| Rank | Frigate captain |
| Unit | Defense Staff |
| Arrest date | March 30, 2021 |
| Arrest place | Rome, Italy |
| Charges | Espionage and corruption |
| Sentence | 20 years in prison |
| Links | Instagram- #walterbiot Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Walter Biot, 57, was born in Rome on May 23, 1966. He graduated from the Naval Academy in Livorno in 1988, and joined the Italian navy as a junior officer. He served on various ships and submarines and participated in several international missions, including in the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. He also obtained a degree in political science from the University of Rome in 1996, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the University of Turin in 2004.
In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of frigate captain, and assigned to the office of the Chief of the Defence Staff in Rome, where he worked as a police officer in charge of the projection of Italian defense assets in foreign operational theaters and the international police of the Italian armed forces under the aegis of NATO, EU, and UN. He had access to classified and sensitive information and had the credentials of “no objection” to view military documents.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches or 178 cm
- Weight: 75 kg or 165 lbs
- Eye color: Blue
- Hair color: Black
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Not Known |
| 2022 | Not Known |
| 2023 | Below $500k USD |
A Family Man in Financial Trouble
Walter Biot was married to Claudia Carbonara, a psychotherapist, and had four children, aged between 15 and 24. He also had four dogs, and lived in a house in Pomezia, a town near Rome. He was described by his wife and colleagues as a loyal, honest, and professional man, who loved his country and his family.
However, he was also facing serious financial difficulties, according to his wife, who spoke to the media on his behalf. She said that he was unable to cope with the expenses of raising a family on a monthly salary of €3,000 ($3,500), and that he had a €268,000 ($305,000) mortgage on the family home. She also said that he was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which reduced their income and increased their debts. She claimed that he was “just desperate”, and that he did not intend to harm Italy’s national interest.
A Spy Caught Red-Handed
Biot’s espionage activities came to light on March 30, 2021, when he was caught red-handed by the ROS carabinieri, a special unit of the Italian military police, in a parking lot of a supermarket on the outskirts of Rome. He was about to hand over a SIM card with 181 photos of classified documents, including nine identified as highly confidential and another 47 secret NATO documents, to Dmitry Ostroukhov, an assistant of the naval attaché of the Russian embassy in Rome, Alexey Nemudrov. He received €5,000 in cash for the exchange.
The ROS carabinieri had been monitoring Biot’s movements and communications for months, after receiving a tip from the Italian intelligence services. They had also installed a hidden camera and microphone in his office at the Defense Staff, where he used his credentials to access and photograph the secret documents with his cell phone. They had also searched his house and found other SIM cards and USB drives with more classified information.
Walter Biot was arrested and taken to the Regina Coeli prison in Rome. He refused to answer questions from the investigating judge, saying that he was dazed and disoriented but ready to clarify his position. He also invoked his right to silence during the trial, which was held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the case. The Russian officials involved in the spy ring were expelled from Italy, while Russia expressed its regret and hoped that the incident would not affect the bilateral relations between the two countries.
A Convicted Traitor Facing 20 Years in Prison
On January 19, 2024, the Court of Assizes in Rome sentenced Biot to 20 years in prison for espionage and corruption. The court found him guilty of betraying his country and compromising its security and alliances. The sentence was higher than the 18 years requested by the prosecutor, who had contested very heavy charges against him. The court also ordered him to pay €1.5 million in damages to the Italian state and €500,000 to the NATO alliance.
Walter Biot’s lawyer, Roberto De Vita, said that he would appeal the sentence, arguing that Biot was judged on secret evidence and that his rights were violated. He said that he was determined to fight for his innocence and that he did not harm Italy’s national interest. He also said that he was a victim of a political and media campaign that portrayed him as a traitor and a villain.
Biot’s wife, Claudia Carbonara, said that she was shocked and saddened by the verdict, and that she still loved and supported her husband. She said that he was a good man, a good father, and a good officer, who made a mistake out of desperation. She also said that she hoped that he would be released soon and that they would be reunited as a family.
- Biot was a navy officer who worked for the Defense Staff, a structure that dealt with the projection of Italian defense assets in foreign operational theaters and the international police of the Italian armed forces under the aegis of NATO, EU, and UN.
- He had access to classified and sensitive information, which he allegedly sold to Russian embassy officials in exchange for cash.
- He was arrested in March 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2024 for espionage and corruption.
- Walter was in serious financial difficulties and was unable to cope with the expenses of raising a family.
- He refused to answer questions from the investigating judge and during the trial, saying that he was dazed and disoriented but ready to clarify his position.
- He claimed that he did not harm Italy’s national interest and that he was a victim of a political and media campaign that portrayed him as a traitor and a villain.
- His wife, Claudia Carbonara, said that she was shocked and saddened by the verdict, and that she still loved and supported her husband. She said that he was a good man, a good father, and a good officer, who made a mistake out of desperation.
