Czech ambassador in Ukraine to step down

Czech ambassador in Ukraine, Jaroslav Bašta, will be relieved of his position on health grounds, Foreign Minister Jan Kohout confirmed on Sunday. The ambassador had made the request to leave after three years in Kiev and four in Moscow. Mr Bašta was accused in the Czech press of being involved in a scandal over the hand out of visas in the non-EU country. Part of the scandal concerned the choice of a private company to help with the visa process at the Lvov consulate. Mr Bašta denied any guilt.