The Russian Foreign Ministry promises to take care of Russian citizens in the Czech Republic, despite the expulsion of their diplomats from the country. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Vershinin, his words leads TASS.
“In any case, it is necessary to make damage to our citizens to be minimal, and it will be done,” the diplomat stressed. The Verch added that the steps taken by the Czech side were based on incorrect information and contradict the interests of both countries.
Russia and the Czech Republic relations worsened against the background of the accusations against the Russian special services, which Prague considers involved in an explosion in the warehouse of ammunition in Vrbetice in 2014. This was followed by a decision on expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats. In addition, on April 19, members of the Czech Government unanimously decided to exclude Rosatom from among the candidates for participation in the tender for the construction of a new power unit of the NPP “Cocus” in the south-east of the country.
Moscow promised to take retaliatory steps and already sent 20 Czech diplomats. Then Prague demanded from Moscow to return the expelled Czech diplomats back to 13:00 (MSK) on April 22, threatening otherwise to take new steps against Russia. In particular, the head of the Czech Foreign Ministry of Yakub Kulgank made the expulsion of about 60 employees of the Russian diplomacy in the country. The term of the ultimatum has expired earlier on Thursday.