After an affair about an alleged poisoning plot, the Czech Republic expels two Russian diplomats. Foreign minister Tomas Petricek said in Prague yesterday that it is very rare and only after careful consideration. Moscow’s behavior, however, leaves no other option.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted promptly and announced countermeasures. Prague’s actions are seriously damaging the relations between the two countries, the Moscow Ministry said. That will influence the Russian attitude in the future. Prague will receive a corresponding answer. „You have to be held responsible for such provocations,“ it said.
History conceived?
The affair was triggered by a report by the news magazine „Respekt“, which said that a Russian diplomat had smuggled a suitcase with the deadly poison ricin into the country. In Czech security circles, this was seen as a danger to the Mayor Zdenek Hrib, critical of Russia, and two other local politicians.
The poison story is said to have turned out to be fictitious: „The whole affair was the result of an internal struggle between employees of the Russian embassy in Prague,“ said Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. One had misrepresented the Czech secret service BIS to take revenge on the other. Babis criticized that this led to unnecessary complications in the mutual relationship.
Moscow: “Rude Step”
Russia reacted angrily to the expulsion. The Russian embassy in Prague spoke of an „unfriendly move“ based on „unfounded accusations“ in the media. Prague is not interested in normalizing relations between the two countries. „We are deeply disappointed,“ said the message on Facebook. It remained open whether Russia also wanted to expel Czech embassy staff.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the Prague city government removed a statue for Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev and renamed the square in front of the Russian embassy after the murdered opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.
