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Russia-Czech Republic diplomatic bra de fer continues: Prague deports 63 more diplomats

THE Czech government decides 63 employees of Russian embassy in Prague must leave the country. The statement was made by Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulganek, speaking on Czech television.

“These are 63 diplomats, employees of the Russian embassy, ​​who will leave the country with their family members,” said the Czech Foreign Minister.

Russia has said it will respond swiftly to deportations following the Czech Republic’s decision to expel Russian diplomats from Prague to equalize the number of diplomats at the Russian embassy with those serving at the Czech embassy in Moscow. the Czechs.

“At the moment, Prague is on the path of destroying relations with Russia,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a routine weekly briefing.

The Czech Republic is reducing the number of Russian diplomats to a level equal to the number of Czech diplomats serving at the Moscow embassy. The decision was announced today by Czech Foreign Minister Jacob Kulganek, following the deportation of 20 Czech diplomats from Moscow following the deportation of 18 Russian diplomats from Prague.

“We are limiting the number of diplomats in the Russian diplomatic mission in Prague in proportion to the staff of our embassy in Moscow,” Kulganek said, adding that “this decision takes effect today. “The Russian side has until the end of May to recall its people (from the Czech Republic).” This practically means the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats from the Russian embassy and consulate in the Czech Republic.

According to the calculations of the Czech Foreign Ministry, as of Tuesday, the staff of the Russian embassy in the Czech Republic consists of 27 diplomats and 67 technical staff, while the Czech embassy in Russia consists of 5 diplomats and 19 technical staff.

The Czech Foreign Minister said that the decision to reduce the staff of the Russian embassy in Prague was supported by the European Union and NATO, while the Czech Foreign Ministry announced that NATO member states were asked to assist the “Czech embassy”. in Moscow that has been paralyzed “its activity in Moscow.

Prague accuses Moscow of involvement in the bombing of an ammunition depot in the eastern Czech village of Vrbetica in 2014, a charge denied by Moscow.

Slovakia decides today to deport three Russian diplomats in solidarity with the Czech Republic

Slovakia today decided to deport three Russian diplomats, giving them a week to leave the country, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger said in a televised message.

“Slovakia is deporting three Russian diplomats who have to leave the country within the next seven days,” Heger said.

Heger said Slovakia had acted in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which had decided to expel most of its diplomatic staff after accusing Russia that Russian intelligence officials were behind the bombing of an ammunition depot in the eastern part of the country in 2014. .

Reacting to Slovakia’s decision, Moscow, through Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, expressed frustration with Bratislava’s “unfriendly actions”, which it criticized for “false solidarity” with the Czech Republic. promising to give her own answer immediately.

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