April 22 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova commented on the Czech Foreign Ministry statement on the 21st local time, suggesting that Prague should leave the ultimatum within NATO for its own use. Earlier in the day, Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek issued an ultimatum to Moscow that Czech diplomats expelled from Russia must be able to return to Moscow by 12 o’clock on the 22nd.
According to the Russian satellite news agency, Zakharova commented on the Czech Foreign Ministry statement, suggested that Prague will leave the ultimatum within NATO for their own use, and by the 22nd, the Czech ambassador to Moscow will continue the training of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“It is recommended that Prague leave the ultimatum within NATO for its own use,” Zakharova said. Russia will not tolerate such a tone. “The conversation with the Czech ambassador to Moscow will continue tomorrow at the Russian Foreign Ministry.”
Czech Foreign Minister said earlier in the day, the Czech diplomats expelled by Russia must be able to return to Moscow before 12 o’clock on the 22nd, otherwise, the Czech Republic will continue to expel the Russian Embassy in Prague diplomatic personnel, until the number will be reduced to the same number as the Czech Embassy in Moscow.
According to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian diplomatic mission in Prague has 27 diplomats and 67 technical personnel. The Czech diplomatic mission in Moscow has five diplomats and 19 technicians.
On April 17th the Czech side said it suspected Russian intelligence services of being involved in the 2014 bombing of an arms depot in the village of Vrbetice in Zlin state. Czech Foreign Minister Mehmaczek announced the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats.
Czech police are also looking for two Russian citizens. On April 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of 20 staff members of the Czech Embassy in Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the Czech statement accusing the Russian secret service of involvement in the 2014 bombing of the ammunition depot in the Residential Area of Verbertica was absurd.
