Slovakia will expel three Russian diplomats in response to an explosion in a Czech ammunition warehouse seven years ago with the alleged involvement of Russia, as stated by the Czech Government last week, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLANO) announced on Thursday. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova stated on Thursday that by expelling three Russian diplomats, Slovakia had expressed support to the Czech Republic and at the same time erected strong boundaries against the activities of foreign secret services that endanger the security interests of "our countries". The Russians were asked to leave Slovakia within seven days. "Thank you very much. I appreciate this great gesture of the Slovak Republic," wrote Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Twitter. In an earlier tweet, Babis reported that he had discussed the "serious" situation in Czech-Russian relations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I asked for her support, bilaterally as well as within the EU and NATO. She assured me that Germany stands firmly with us," stated Babis.
The opposition Smer-SD party on Thursday called on the Slovak Government to present without any delay the reasons for the expulsion of three Russian diplomats as announced earlier in the day. Parliamentary Vice-chairman Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) at the same time stated that his party would initiate an extraordinary session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee to discuss the issue. He noted that the EU has not adopted any joint attitude on the Czech-Russian rift and Slovakia is the only country apart from the Czech Republic to engage in expelling Russian diplomats over the explosion in a Czech ammunition warehouse with Russia's alleged involvement in 2014. Smer chief Robert Fico, a former three-times prime minister, said that this move confirms that the Slovak Government is composed of US agents. The extra-parliamentary Voice-SD party of former Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini stated on Thursday that it was "sorry to see" the Government expelling three Russian diplomats without consulting Parliament and providing proper information to the public.
Source: TASR
