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The Czech Republic has decided to reduce the staff of the Russian Embassy in Prague to that of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow. Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek announced this decision during a press conference.
“The Russian Federation did not respond until noon (as requested by the Czech Republic). We are limiting the number of diplomats in the Russian embassy to the level of representation in our embassy in Moscow,” the minister said according to the Czech news portal. Seznam Zpravy.
“We are limiting the number of diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Prague to match the number of our diplomats at the Embassy in Moscow. This decision takes effect today. Russia has time to withdraw its people (from the Czech Republic) at the end of May, “Kulhanek said.
Mr. Kulhanek emphasized that the Czech Republic did not want to deepen relations with Russia, but said that the Czech authorities had no other choice.
“We do not want our decision to be seen as a threat to Russia in general, to all Russians and to Russian citizens living, working and studying in the Czech Republic,” Kulhanek said.
Mr. Kulhanek pointed out that Prague was acting in accordance with Article 11 of the Vienna Convention. According to him, diplomats should leave the country at the end of May, Novinky reports.
Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babish, who also attended the press conference, said the decision had been notified and endorsed by President Milos Zeman.
“It just came to our notice then. We are interested in maintaining good relations,” emphasized A. Babišas.
Earlier, the Czech Foreign Minister asked NATO countries to help the “paralyzed Czech embassy” in Moscow so that it could function. This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic on Thursday.
“The head of Czech diplomacy has asked allied countries to provide practical assistance to the crippled Czech embassy in Moscow,” the report said.
The Czech embassy staff was reduced when Russia sent 20 diplomats to the country in response to the Czech decision to declare 18 Russian special services diplomats undesirable.
Czech Foreign Minister Kulhánek stressed that the work of the Czech embassy in Moscow was largely “paralyzed” due to staff shortages, and called for consultations with NATO countries.
Earlier, representatives of the Czech government stated that the country’s embassy in Moscow has much fewer staff than the Russian diplomatic mission in Prague. The opposition asked the government to seek parity in the number of personnel in both missions.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Russian Embassy employs 27 diplomats and 67 technicians, and the Embassy of the Czech Republic has 5 diplomats and 19 technicians.
Delphi recalls that the Czech government issued an ultimatum to Moscow on Wednesday, warning that it could send more Russian diplomats out of the country unless Czech diplomats sent from Russia can return to work before noon on Thursday.
“The Russian Federation has until 12 noon tomorrow (local time, 1 pm Lithuanian time) to allow all sent diplomats to return to the Czech embassy in Moscow,” Jakub Kulhanek, the new chief, told reporters. of the country’s diplomacy.
“If they cannot return, I will reduce the number of staff at the Russian embassy in Prague to match the current situation at the Czech embassy in Moscow,” he added.
After meeting with the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry, Alexander Zmeyevsky, Kulhanek said that Moscow’s response was “disproportionate and, in fact, paralyzed the embassy.”
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow currently employs five diplomats and 19 technicians, far fewer than the Embassy of Russia in Prague.
“The expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats did not jeopardize the functioning of the Russian embassy,” said Kulhanek, who was appointed minister only on Wednesday.
At the time, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned Prague that the tone of the ultimatum was unacceptable to Moscow and said Czech Ambassador Vitezlav Pivonka would be summoned to the MFA on Thursday.
“Judging by some statements by Czech politicians, they are trying to make Kafka a reality. We propose that Prague leave ultimatums for communication within NATO. That tone is unacceptable with Russia,” Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the NATO, told reporters. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
“Tomorrow, the conversation with the Czech ambassador will be continued by the Russian Foreign Ministry,” he added.
Jan Hamaček, Interior Minister at the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday that he was ready to dispatch all Russian diplomats from Prague.
“I am ready for anything. He even builds relationships from scratch. This means that we will send all (diplomats) home,” said J. Hamaček on the social network Facebook.
“I was expecting a slightly different reaction from Russia, but hey. We are forced to give an answer in a series of stages. Today it was Rosatom, which they (Russia) will not like. And we need to consult about other options,” he added .
Hamaček also said his country was asking European Union and NATO partners to send Russian diplomats out of solidarity.
The Czech government said, based on an intelligence report, that the Russian military intelligence agency GRU organized two bombings in 2014, one of which killed two people and caused significant material damage.
Czech police investigating these attacks are searching for two men suspected of the 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England.
Prague also decided on Monday to exclude Russian nuclear giant Rosatom from bidding for the construction of a new unit at a Czech nuclear power plant.
Mr. Hamaček added that the Czech government would no longer consider obtaining a Russian COVID-19 “Sputnik V” vaccine.
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