Prague vows to declassify material about 2014 ammunition depot explosion



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According to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers will examine and discuss the case file compiled by the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) on Monday.

“The case will be discussed in the government on Monday because other ministers have not seen it and I want the data to be declassified,” he told Lidove noviny.

A. Babišas promised that then the Czechs would have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with classified documents.

When asked if further action would be taken, he replied that he thought sending 18 Russian diplomats was the correct answer.

The prime minister also said that he had already informed the other members of the European Union and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, about the case.

“We will definitely discuss this at the next Council meeting,” he added.

The Czech government announced on Saturday the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats, whom Czech scouts call secret agents of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and the military intelligence agency GRU and linked the 2014 explosion at a munitions depot. soldiers near the Czech village of Vrbice. .

Czech police also later announced that they were searching for two Russians with passports on suspicion of poisoning by former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in 2018 as a result of the attempt on two lives.

Russia threatens to retaliate

Russia’s Foreign Ministry vigorously protested Sunday against the “unprecedented” deportation from Prague of 18 Russian embassy employees. According to the ministry, this “hostile movement” shows “traces” of Washington’s involvement.

“We are vigorously protesting against the Czech authorities. We will take retaliatory measures that will make the authors of this provocation realize their full responsibility for the destruction of the foundations for the normal development of relations between our countries,” the ministry said in a statement.

Russia threatened to retaliate on Sunday after the Czech government decided to expel 18 Russian diplomats from the country after discovering they were intelligence agents, AFP reports.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that the Czech decision to expel embassy staff is unprecedented. According to the ministry, Russia is suspected that its special services are responsible for the 2014 explosions in the ammunition depot are simply “unreasonable inventions.”

“We are vigorously protesting against the Czech authorities. We will take retaliatory measures that will make the perpetrators of this provocation realize their responsibility for the disruption of normal relations between our countries,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. .

Although Russia did not specify what steps it intended to take, it called the Czech decision absurd.

On Saturday, the Czech Republic announced the expulsion of 18 employees from the Russian embassy after it was determined that they worked for the External Intelligence Service (SVR) and the General Intelligence Board (GRU) of the Russian Federation.

The Czech Republic has also announced that two Russians who used the same passports as double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in 2018 are being searched at the 2018 ammunition depot. Suspects poisoned in the UK.

Moscow said the Czech move was hostile to the United States and accused the Czech authorities of applauding the “hosts from the other side of the Atlantic.”

Earlier this week, the United States sent 10 Russian diplomats to intervene in US elections, large-scale cyberattacks and other hostile acts.

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