UK claims Czech Embassy in London owes thousands of pounds in unpaid congestion fees

The British Foreign Office claims that dozens of foreign embassies in London, including the Embassy of the Czech Republic, owe the country millions of pounds in unpaid congestion charges. According to a report published by the office the overall size of the debt now totals more than £145 million. Czechia reportedly owes over £480,000.

The countries in question, which include the US, Japan, Poland, France and Germany, argue that the congestion charge, introduced in 2003, is a tax – making them exempt from paying it.

Daniel Drake, spokesman for the Czech Foreign Ministry, said the congestion charge is a local fee that should not apply to diplomats since it violates Article 25 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states that the receiving state must facilitate the performance of diplomatic missions in every possible way.

The British Foreign Office claims there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organizations from the London congestion charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge.