Federation Council calls for reciprocal response to Russian diplomats' expulsion from Czech Republic
MOSCOW. June 5 (Interfax) - Russia should give a mirrored response to the expulsion of its diplomats from the Czech Republic, first deputy head of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov told Interfax on Friday.
"I believe that such things must not be let slide; obviously, a mirrored response should be given, or else any country might start expelling our officers on any occasion," Dzhabarov said.
Russia's response will be planned "at the level of the Foreign Ministry or above," he said.
"Life shows that such things never go unanswered," Dzhabarov said.
The statement followed the Czech Republic's decision to expel two Russian diplomats.
In Dzhabarov's opinion, this move could be related to the desire of Czech President Milos Zeman to attend the Victory Parade in Moscow.
"The thing is that President Zeman, who is well disposed toward Russia, has repeatedly expressed the desire to attend the Victory Parade in Moscow. He first planned to do so on May 9 and said later he would attend the parade on the new date. The date was set recently, so the Czechs made an unfriendly move: they expelled two officers of our embassy, hoping that Zeman would call off his visit to Russia under such circumstances," Dzhabarov said.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said at a press conference on Friday that two officers of the Russian embassy have been declared personae non gratae.