PM Fiala says Czechs will not stay silent on Moscow building move

The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, says his government will not stay silent after the Russian authorities removed part of the fence at the Czech House in Moscow. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr. Fiala said Czech officials would follow international custom in their response to the move, which he said could not be regarded as normal.

On Monday the Moscow authorities ordered the removal of a 19-metre section of the fence, saying it had been erected without permission.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the step was in contravention of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Czech House contains Moscow’s Czech Embassy and other official agencies.