Czech Republic to inform EU about alleged Russian link to 2014 explosion
Prague, Apr 18 (EFE).- The Czech Republic on Sunday said it was in contact with its European Union partners about an alleged Russian-backed sabotage attack against an ammunition depot in 2014.
Acting Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek tweeted: “I tasked our ambassadors at EU and NATO to inform our allies about the Vrbetice case.
“I will also speak about this at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday,” he added, referring to the upcoming video conference between EU foreign affairs ministers to discuss the situation in Ukraine, among other issues.
The Czech government on Saturday confirmed it had expelled 18 Russian diplomats accused of being spies.
In October 2014, the Vrbetice depot was hit by a series of explosions that killed two people working at the site of the weapon stockpile.
Czech authorities this weekend said they suspected that Russian agents sabotaged the depot, which stored supplies of ammunition and weapons reportedly destined for the Ukrainian army, which at the time was fighting against pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas.
On Saturday, the Czech police released photos of two suspected members of Russian foreign intelligence (GRU). The photos matched those of two Russian men wanted in connection with the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the city of Salisbury, England, in 2018.
The police said those two Russian men entered the country in October 2014 using counterfeit passports.EFE
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