MOSCOW, 10 APR — RIA Novosti. Russia does not understand and does not accept actions on the dismantling of monuments to Soviet soldiers, regrets the demolition of the monument to Marshal Ivan Konev in Prague, Moscow would prefer to see the monument restored to Czech or Russian soil, told reporters press-Secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov.
the representative of the Kremlin said that the Russian side “on different levels expressed their lack of understanding, regret and indignation at the actions of a number of European capitals on the dismantling of monuments to red army soldiers who gave their lives and contributed to the liberation of these countries from fascism.”
“We do not understand and do not accept these actions. This is our attitude applies to the mentioned monument. We regret in this regard and we, of course, would prefer still to see this monument restored or recovered in the Czech lands, the inhabitants of which, in our opinion, should be grateful to this man, or — if necessary — in the Russian land,” — said Peskov in response to a request to comment on the failure of the Czech Republic to convey Russia to dismantle the monument to Marshal Konev.
the Monument is Konev was installed in Prague at the initiative of the city authorities in the late 1970’s-early 1980-ies. In September 2019, the authorities of the district Prague 6, which has a monument to Konev, took the decision to move the monument in a secluded place or transfer it to private owners. On 3 April, the monument was removed from the pedestal in the center of Prague. The Russian Embassy expressed the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic a strong protest.
on Thursday, the Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has sent a letter to the Minister of defence of the Czech Republic Lubomir Metaru with the request for the transfer to Russia of a monument to Konev and expressed the readiness of the Russian side to pay all the associated financial costs. At the same time, Shoigu expressed regret that the dismantling of the monument takes place on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the victory over fascism.
