AOSTA, March 26, 2026 – While a formal ‘joint investigation’ into the New Year’s Eve tragedy at the Constellation discobar in Crans-Montana, as hoped by the Meloni government, will not proceed, a ‘strengthened cooperation’ agreement has been reached between Italian and Swiss magistrates. This development follows a mission to Valais by Roman prosecutor Stefano Opilio.
Reciprocity in the Investigation
The key principle emerging from prosecutor Opilio’s visit is ‘reciprocity.’ After Rome’s initial request for judicial assistance in January, Swiss investigators are now seeking access to the extensive investigative work already conducted in Italy.
Swiss Request for Italian Documents
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Valais intends to promptly issue a letter rogatory to the Italian judicial authorities. This request aims to acquire a series of documents, primarily the autopsy reports of the young Italian victims of the discobar fire, conducted immediately after their repatriation. Additionally, Swiss prosecutors are interested in the results of medical-legal consultations on the injured, analyses of their mobile phones, and transcripts of their testimonies collected by Italian investigators.
Italian Access to Swiss Dossier
Prosecutor Opilio, accompanied by investigators from the mobile squad, judicial police, firefighters, and the police attaché from the Italian embassy in Bern, was granted full access to the Swiss investigative dossier, which comprises over 3,500 pages. He selected more than a thousand documents for which an acquisition request has been made. The Sion Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly committed to expediting the complex evaluation and transmission procedure through the involvement of the Federal Office of Justice.
Site Inspection in Crans-Montana
On Thursday morning, the Italian delegation also conducted an inspection at the Constellation in Crans-Montana, the site of the tragedy where 41 people died, including six Italians, and 115 were injured. Opilio stated to journalists outside the Constellation, “Our visit here is a sign of respect and attention to all victims.”
Diplomatic Thaw and Upcoming Interrogations
It remains to be seen whether this collaborative atmosphere will be sufficient for the Italian government to ease the diplomatic tension that arose in late January. This tension followed the recall of the Italian ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, after the release of Jacques Moretti, owner of the Constellation, who is accused along with eight others of arson, injury, and negligent homicide.
Sion magistrates will resume their investigation after the Easter break, starting with Moretti’s interrogation on April 7. In the following days, the most recent suspects will be questioned, including the five municipal administrators, among them the mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Féraud, who is expected to meet with magistrates on Monday, April 13.
Source: https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2026/03/26/crans-montana-ora-gli-svizzeri-vogliono-le-carte-di-roma_09530d67-8c7d-47ed-8cc5-5c0a2da8732b.html
