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Updated April 20th, 2021 at 11:45 IST

Expelled Czech diplomats return from Russia

Czech diplomats arrived back in the country on Monday after Russian authorities expelled them over a spy scandal.

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Czech diplomats arrived back in the country on Monday after Russian authorities expelled them over a spy scandal.

Russia on Sunday ordered 20 Czech diplomats to leave the country within a day in response to the Czech government's expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats.

Prague said the expelled Russian diplomats were spies for a military intelligence agency that it claims was involved in a huge blast at an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic in 2014.

Czech Ambassador Vitezslav Pivonka was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday evening and told that the 20 diplomats must leave by the close of Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the plane arrived back in Prague, Czech Minister of the Interior and acting Foreign Minister, Jan Hamacek, said the Czech government would consider further actions over the scandal.

"The Russian reaction is very strong. We are acknowledging it and we will consult within the government about our future steps. Frankly speaking, we are considering all the options that we have. Also, one option is to set relations back to principles of reciprocity," he said.

Russian diplomats and their families left Prague on a Russian government plane earlier Monday.

 

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Published April 20th, 2021 at 11:45 IST

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