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Friday, April 23, 2021, 10:37
Russia asks Czech embassy to reduce staff in tit-for-tat move
By Xinhua
Friday, April 23, 2021, 10:37 By Xinhua

People walk past the Russian Embassy in Prague on April 22, 2021. Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek said Russia will have until the end of May to withdraw its embassy's employees to reduce the number to the same level as those of the Czech embassy in Moscow. Shortly after Prague made the decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry demanded the Czech embassy in Moscow reduce the number of employees. (MICHAL CIZEK / AFP)

MOSCOW/PRAGUE - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday demanded the Czech embassy in Moscow reduce the number of employees shortly after Prague made a mirror-like decision.

Earlier in the day, the Czech Foreign Ministry announced that it would reduce and put a cap on the number of employees in the Russian embassy in Prague to the same number at the Czech embassy in Moscow, and the Russian side has to withdraw its staff by the end of May.

The decision took effect as of Thursday and the Russian side has the deadline to withdraw its staff till the end of May, said the Czech Foreign Ministry.

We are interested in fair relations with Russia and we hoped that Russia would recognize the disproportionate response, but it did not happen. That is why we have decided to respond adequately (to reduce and put a cap on the number of employees in the Russian embassy in Prague to the same number at the Czech embassy in Moscow).

Andrej Babis, Czech Prime Minister

"This is not a situation that would please us. We are not talking about escalation," said Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis at a press conference.

"We are interested in fair relations with Russia and we hoped that Russia would recognize the disproportionate response, but it did not happen. That is why we have decided to respond adequately," Babis said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it summoned Czech ambassador to Russia Vitezslav Pivonka and strongly protested to him against the new restrictions.

In response to "the hostile actions," the Russian ministry demanded the Czech embassy in Moscow reduce its staffers, since there is "significant disparity" in terms of the locally hired.

ALSO READ: Czech PM: Depot explosion not Russian 'act of state terrorism’

It remains unclear how many people from both sides will be affected this new round of diplomatic spat.

Pivonka was told that Moscow reserves the right to take further steps if the Czech Republic continues anti-Russian steps.

The Czech government has recently expelled 18 Russian embassy staffers for the alleged involvement of the Russian special services in two ammunition depot explosions in 2014 in the Czech Republic.

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Sunday it was expelling 20 staffers of the Czech embassy in Moscow.

The Russian side has denied the accusations and responded with expelling 20 staffers of the Czech embassy in Moscow.

Calling Russian response "overreacted" and "paralysing" its Moscow embassy operations because of its comparatively small size, the Czech Republic offered an ultimatum to Russia to reverse its decision or face more expulsions before Thursday noon.

"The Russian side has not responded until noon. We therefore decided to react as follows: Pursuant to Article 11 of the Vienna Convention, we are capping the number of Russian diplomats in Prague on the current state of our representation in Moscow. This decision is valid from today, Russia has time to withdraw its people until the end of May," said Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek.

READ MORE: Czech Republic expels 18 Russian embassy staff members

"This decision is not directed against ordinary Russians who study or work with us," Kulhanek added.

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