MOSCOW, April 18 (Xinhua) – The influence of the United States played an obvious role in the Czech Republic’s decision to expel 18 Russian diplomats, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
The Czech authorities took the decision to please the United States in the wake of recent US sanctions against Russia, the ministry said in a statement.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday announced the expulsion of 18 staff from the Russian Embassy in Prague, for alleged Russian secret service involvement in the explosion of two ammunition warehouses in 2014.
The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Prague of using “unfounded and far-fetched pretexts” to continue the anti-Russian policy that the Czech Republic has been pursuing for several years.
“We express our strongest protests to the Czech authorities. We will take retaliatory measures, so that the perpetrators of these provocations become fully aware of their responsibility in destroying the foundations for the normal development of our bilateral relations,” the statement said.
On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled ten Russian diplomats, due to election interference and suspected hacking activity by Moscow.
In response to “hostile actions” by the United States, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday announced a series of retaliatory measures, including bans on entry into its territory and the expulsion of diplomats.
Russia will ask ten American diplomats to leave the country, the ministry said in particular.
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