The secret services of the Czech Republic must provide evidence that Russia was involved in the explosions at the ammunition depot in Vrbetica. This opinion was expressed on April 23 by the deputy from the Czech Republic in the European Parliament Kateřina Konecna.
The MP noted that the parties should move to a constructive dialogue to stabilize relations between Prague and Moscow.
“As I understand it, it was said that there was no direct evidence that these agents were there, and no explosives were found. It turns out that we know who did it, but only we do not know if they were there, and we do not have the weapons that they used? Doesn’t sound like convincing arguments, “RIA Novosti quotes her.
A day earlier, it was reported that the head of the Czech Foreign Ministry, Jakub Kulganek, presented NATO with “evidence” of the involvement of Russian special services in the explosion in Vrbetica in 2014. What kind of “evidence” we are talking about has not yet been specified. The diplomat also repeated the request of the Czech Republic to NATO allies to meet with Russian ambassadors in their countries in protest against the “destructive activities of the Russian Federation.”
On the same day, Kulganek announced that the Czech Republic could demand from Russia an apology or material compensation for the destruction caused by the explosions in Vrbetica.
Against the background of information about the alleged involvement of Russia in the explosions, relations between Prague and Moscow deteriorated. On April 17, Prague decided to expel 18 Russian diplomats, Moscow responded in kind and expelled 20 employees of the Czech diplomatic department from the capital.
On April 22, Kulganek announced that Prague is demanding the departure of 63 employees of the Russian embassy in order to create parity between the diplomatic missions of both countries. The next day, Kulganek added that the Czech Republic and Russia would have 32 employees at the embassies in Moscow and Prague.