The Venetian National Liberation Movement (Movimento di Liberazione Nazionale del Popolo Veneto, MLNV) is a national liberation movement which seeks self-determination for the former territories of the Republic of Venice, currently divided in three Italian regions: Veneto, Lombardy and Friuli Venezia Giulia.[1][2][3]
The MLNV was founded in September 2009 and is led by Sergio Bortotto.[1] In November 2009 the MLNV was investigated on the charge of having built a paramilitary organization. The Italian police seized weapons at the home of one of the members, and uniforms of the so-called Polisia Veneta (Venetian Police) in the headquarters of the movement in Treviso. According to the police, the group had planned to attack Luca Zaia, a member of Liga Veneta–Lega Nord.[4] In December 2011, Constitutional Court of Italy ruled that a law that abolished a ban on the formation of paramilitary forces was in accordance with the Constitution of Italy, which meant MLNV could no longer be prosecuted for forming a paramilitary force.[5] In September 2017, all members of the MLNV were acquitted of any accusation because they were determined to be unfounded.[6]
In February 2012, MLNV organised an event in Vicenza to present their plans for Venetian nationalism movement, inviting Venetian nationalist groups to attend.[7] The convention was attended by representatives of the Antonio Guadagnini faction of Veneto State, and activist groups the Venetian Most Serene Government, the Venetian National Government, Self-Government of Venetia, Venetian State and the Friulian Front. The MLNV announced the establishment of the "Provisional Government of the Venetian Republic" (GVP)[8][9] in compliance with art. 96.3 of the Geneva Protocol I.
On 22 January 2015, the GVP signed an agreement recognizing Donetsk People's Republic.[10] On 25 August 2015, the foreign ministry of the Donetsk People's Republic sent a diplomatic note expressing "respect and interest in the development of equal relations and bilateral cooperations" with the GVP.[11][12]