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Ammunition depot in Eastern Czech Republic after explosions (archive photo): "destabilizing measures"
Photo: CZECH REPUBLIC POLICE / HANDOUT / EPA
The Czech Republic has been assured of support from NATO partners in the dispute with Russia.
"The allies express their deep concern about the destabilizing measures," which Russia continues to implement in the Euro-Atlantic area, according to a statement from the NATO states.
We stand by the side of the Czech Republic in full solidarity.
The Czech Republic had previously accused Russian intelligence services of being responsible for explosions in an ammunition dump in Vrbetice in the east of the country in 2014.
Two people died in the process.
A Kremlin spokesman recently spoke of absurd and completely unfounded allegations.
However, research by SPIEGEL and the investigative platforms »Bellingcat« and »The Insider« suggests that the explosions in the ammunition depot were probably an operation by the Russian military intelligence service GRU.
The Czech Republic sets an ultimatum for Russia
As a result of the dispute, both countries expelled each other's embassy staff over the weekend - 18 Russians in Prague and 20 Czechs in Moscow.
On Wednesday evening, the Czech Republic also gave Russia an ultimatum.
Accordingly, the Kremlin must allow the return of all 20 expelled Czech diplomats to the Moscow embassy by 12 noon this Thursday.
Otherwise, the number of Russian diplomats accredited in Prague should be reduced to the same level.
In practice, that would mean the expulsion of more than 20 more Russians.
asa / dpa
