Follow RT on The Czech Republic says it will expel 18 Russian diplomats, alleging that Russian intelligence officers were involved in a local munitions depot blast in 2014. It comes a day after Moscow said it would expel 10 US diplomats.
The move by Prague came amid a diplomatic standoff between Moscow and Washington that began midweek, after US President Joe Biden ordered 10 Russian diplomats out of the country over the Kremlin’s alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election and its claimed involvement in last year’s SolarWinds cyber-espionage case. More than 30 Russian individuals and organizations were also sanctioned, while American companies were banned from directly buying shares in Russia’s national debt.
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Czechs expel 18 Russian diplomats over link to ammunition depot blast Today 05:22 am JST Today | 06:26 am JST PRAGUE
The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in an ammunition depot explosion in 2014, Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said on Saturday.
A diplomatic source cited by Interfax suggested the expulsions could prompt Russia to shut the Czech Republic s embassy in Moscow. There is well-grounded suspicion about the involvement of officers of the Russian intelligence service GRU. in the explosion of ammunitions depot in the Vrbetice area, Babis told a briefing shown live on television.