Moscow expels two Czech diplomats in retaliation over bogus poison plot
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Czech Ambassador Vitězslav Pivoňka on Monday to inform him that two of his fellow diplomats would be expelled as a retaliatory measure. They have been given until Wednesday evening to leave the country.
A week ago, the Czech government announced it would expel two Russian diplomats, one of whom it said had fed false information to domestic intelligence services that the other was targeting elector Prague officials who had taken symbolic steps angering the Kremlin, including the Lord Mayor.
One Prague district mayor had torn down a statue to Soviet-era marshal Ivan Konev, whom Russia considers a hero; another moved to erect a statute to a Red Army general Andrei Vlasov and his troops, whom Russia consider traitors.