Talks on the future of the monument to Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev can begin in the coming weeks. This was stated on Monday, the Czech Ambassador to Russia Vítězslav Pivonka after a visit to the foreign Ministry. It was caused on the Smolensk area, to report: in response to the expulsion from the Czech Republic, two representatives of “Rossotrudnichestvo” in Russia expels two Czech diplomats. According to the Ambassador, Prague believes a diplomatic row with Moscow have been exhausted.In the scandal over the demolition of the monument to Marshal Ivan Konev, resulting in the expulsion of employees of diplomatic missions, first to Prague and then from Moscow, it seems, came the denouement.On Monday, the Russian foreign Ministry had summoned the Ambassador of Czechia in Moscow Vítězslav Pivonka. He announced that “in connection with the unfriendly actions of Prague” and expulsion from the Czech Republic, two representatives of Rossotrudnichestvo to leave Russia before Wednesday night should two employees of the Czech Embassy together with their families.As explained in the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the decision of the Russian side — mirror, and was it adopted in response to the “provocative action official Prague, which was taken without any reason that acknowledged by the Czech government.” Recall, a little over a week ago, the Prime Minister and Minister of foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic at an emergency press conference announced the expulsion of two employees of the Russian Embassy. As noted in the Russian foreign Ministry, “on the basis of absurd and unsubstantiated charges.” “The line to the aggravation of relations with Russia built now (Prague.— “B”) in the rank of state policy. Such developments we will consider in the General context of our relations with the Czech Republic,”— said the Russian foreign Ministry.Judging by the Czech media, the story is really absurd. This spring the decision of the authorities of the Metropolitan district Prague 6 was dismantled the monument to Marshal Ivan Konev. In Russia, the demolition of the monument caused a strong reaction in society. Russia’s investigative Committee opened against the Czech authorities a criminal case, and the official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova promised that “mocking activity” and a crime committed in Prague, “will not remain unanswered”.In April, the Czech magazine Respekt reported that allegedly in the midst of the pandemic in Prague arrived the employee of “Russian special services” in the suitcase which had contained the poison ricin, in order probably to poison the perpetrators to dismantle the monument to Soviet Marshal.However, on 5 June, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrew Babish and Minister of foreign Affairs tomáš Petricek at an emergency press conference announced: the Czech counter-intelligence conducted an investigation and found that “all history is the result of internal struggle in the Russian Embassy in Prague, one of the employees who deliberately sent in (Czech.— “B”) security cover information about the planned attack on the Czech politicians.”Indignant “meaningless load, which fell on the shoulders of Czech counterintelligence in the difficult time of a pandemic,” Prime Minister Andrew Babish said that Prague considers such actions unacceptable and decides to send two employees of the Russian Embassy: judging by the Czech media, one of them is the author of false denunciation and the other his victim.”Of course, we cannot remain indifferent and tolerant of hostile manifestations on the part of Prague, and each time we will respond adequately what actually happens. But generally speaking, of course, we maintain our interest in further establishing and maintaining a good partnership and mutually beneficial relations with the Czech Republic, this is important”,— said Monday the official representative of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov.However, now Czech diplomats are optimistic. As stated by Ambassador Pivonka, which the Russian foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of two of his subordinates, Russia and the Czech Republic are now preparing bilateral consultations on the level of Deputy foreign Ministers. “The Russian side informed the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in the Russian Federation of Vítězslav Pivonka about the second step, i.e. the Declaration of “persona non grata”,— noted the official representative the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Zuzana Stihova.— We are talking about the expected reactions mirrored in our step, taken 5 June. Problem that is not caused by the Czech side, consider it solved.”Expected “few weeks” high-ranking diplomats will discuss, including the situation around the monument to Soviet Marshal and will take “a political decision” about the fate of the monument. Although the Czech authorities stressed that the monument is the property of the district Prague 6, this may not prevent the return of the statue to Russia.Galina Dudina
