Russia asks Czech Republic for police protection for diplomat accused in poisoning case

The embassy wrote that it has asked the Czech side to provide police protection and take measures to prevent attacks on the Russian diplomat.

In accordance with the Article 29 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations from 1961, the embassy has turned to the Czech Foreign Ministry with a request to take all adequate measures to prevent any attack against the person, freedom, and dignity of its employee, the embassy wrote.

Due to the hunt on him, triggered by the Czech media, the diplomat has faced threats, the embassy wrote, adding that it felt forced to turn to the Czech side over the police protection for its employee.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has not officially obtained the embassy’s request, which is why it would not comment on it for the moment, its spokeswoman Zuzana Štíchová told CTK.

The information about the arrival of a Russian officer with poison was also discussed by the Czech lower house’s security committee last week, and it agreed that the reaction of the Czech security bodies was appropriate.

“In connection with the ongoing anti-Russian information campaign in the Czech Republic, we declare that the mendacious and unfounded accusations (referring to local secret services) that the Russian Federation embassy’s employee is preparing a murder attack on Prague local politicians has been repeatedly and clearly refuted by the Russian side – both in Moscow and Prague,” the Russian embassy wrote.

Russia has also protested against the installation of a monument to General Vlasov’s Russian Liberation Army in Prague-Reporyje for their contribution to the liberation of Prague in May 1945.