In response to the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic, Russia expelled 20 employees of the Czech embassy in Moscow on Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The Czech Republic reported that Russia had expelled 16 Czech diplomats and four non-diplomatic embassy staff.
It has already been reported that the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian diplomats on Saturday, who, according to the Czech intelligence service, are secret agents of the Russian intelligence services.
Russia called the Czech decision an unprecedented step and summoned the Czech ambassador to the Foreign Ministry on Sunday evening.
About five diplomats will remain in Moscow after the expulsion of the Czech embassy staff, the DPA news agency reports.
CONTEXT:
The Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian embassy staffsuspected of being linked to munitions depot explosions in 2014. The Czech leaders want to discuss this situation with the leaders of other European Union member states as soon as possible.
In 2014, 2 explosions were fired at an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic, which at that time contained weapons of a Bulgarian trader, which he planned to deliver to Ukraine.
The Czech Republic has now announced that Russian intelligence services will be involved in the bombings, and the Czech Republic will expel 18 Russian diplomats involved in intelligence. The Czech Republic also hopes for the support of EU partners, which Latvia has already expressed.
Meanwhile, Russia calls the Prague decision absurd and promises to respond adequately.
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