Russia Gives 20 Czech Diplomats 24 Hours to Leave Published April 19th, 2021 - 09:17 GMT
A Czech and a European Union flags flies at the Czech embassy in Moscow on April 19, 2021. Russia on April 18, 2021 announced the expulsion of 20 Czech diplomats a day after Prague s unprecedented decision to expel 18 Russian diplomats identified as secret agents. Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP
Highlights
Russia has expelled 20 Czech diplomats.
Russia has expelled 20 Czech diplomats in retaliation for a slew of diplomatic expulsions by Prague and gave the affected Czech diplomats just over 24 hours to leave the country, the RIA news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying.
Also Read
Russia Did Not Attack Czech Republic in Vrbetice, Prime Minister Babis Says sputniknews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sputniknews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
UAWire
Monday, April 19, 2021 10:00:00 AM
Moscow has declared 20 employees of the Czech Embassy in Russia persona non grata in response to Prague’s decision to expel 18 Russian diplomats because of their involvement in an explosion of an ammunition depot.
The day before, on April 18, Czech Ambassador Vitezslav Pivonka was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry and handed over a note. According to media reports, he stayed in the Russian Foreign Ministry building for about 20 minutes. The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly protested against the unfriendly act of the Czech authorities towards the personnel of the Russian diplomatic mission in Prague. Twenty employees of the Czech Embassy in Moscow have been declared persona non grata, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
19 Apr in 11:00
Czech Ambassador to Russia Vitezslav Pivonka has left the building of the Russian foreign ministry where he was informed about Russia’s measures to respond to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic. We were informed now, he said when asked whether any response measures were announced. It was Russia’s response.
The Czech diplomat spent 20 minutes inside the Russian foreign ministry building, TASS reported.
A well-informed source said earlier the Czech ambassador would be summoned to the Russian foreign ministry.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and First Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamacek on Saturday announced the expulsion of 18 employees of the Russian embassy in Prague, who were allegedly officers of Russian special services.
Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, April 19 russiaherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from russiaherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.