MOSCOW, 9 APR — RIA Novosti. defense Minister Sergei Shoigu wrote a letter to a Czech colleague, Lubomir Metaru with a request to give Russia a monument to Marshal Ivan Konev, who previously demolished in Prague.
“Mr. Minister, I can not Express my regret for the actions of the authorities of the district Prague 6, which on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the victory over the German Nazis removed the monument to the hero and liberator of Europe, and Prague from the Nazis, Marshal Ivan Stepanovich Konev. Skillfully conducted in 1945, the military operation to liberate Prague from the Nazis saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Czechs and freed millions of Your fellow citizens from the Nazi yoke,” — said in a letter to Shoigu, published on the website of the Communist party of Bohemia and Moravia.
He recalled that the Soviet Union paid for the liberation of Europe from Nazism a huge price. During only one of the Prague strategic operations killed and wounded more than 50 thousand Soviet citizens, who fought for the freedom and independence of the Czech nation. Therefore, Russia can not remain indifferent in the situation with the demolition of the monument to the liberators of Prague from the Nazis, said the Minister.
“I Beg You as soon as possible to transfer the monument to the Russian Federation. Expect You information about the place and time of its transmission. If the solution to this problem requires financial expenditure, we are ready to pay for them,” wrote Sergei Shoigu.
the Head of communications of the Ministry of defense of the Czech Jan Pasek, answering questions network edition Parlamentní Listy, confirmed the receipt of office letter Shoigu said that will produce a response in Moscow.
“Yes, that’s the letter we received and of course will prepare the answer. This monument is not ours, therefore we are unable to meet the Russian side. Can’t pass something that is not ours. We are not talking about a military burial and monument to continue is a property of Prague-6,” said Pasek.
the Monument is Konev set in Prague on the initiative of the city authorities in the late 1970’s-early 1980-ies. It was installed by the local inhabitants in gratitude for the fact that the Marshal was ordered not to use heavy artillery during liberation of the city from the Nazis in may 1945 and kept building.
Press-Secretary Czech President Milos Zeman jiří Ovcacek called the demolition of the monument to shame. He drew attention to the fact that the Marshal had liberated the death camp Auschwitz and Czechoslovakia from the Nazis.
In turn, the Russian Embassy expressed the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic a strong protest.
defense Minister Sergei Shoigu asked the head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin to prosecute foreign officials responsible for the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers.
