Respekt: Russians tried to get expelled Czech diplomat to cooperate as agent

Czech diplomat Tomáš Hart, who was expelled from Russia this week, was contacted by the Russian secret service with an offer of cooperation, the websites Respekt.cz and Deník N reported, citing the diplomat himself. The Russian secret service reportedly also tried to intimidate another Czech diplomat, telling her they knew details of her private life and unless she cooperated she would be expelled from Russia.

Diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and Russia have been strained for some time. Last spring, the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian embassy staff following revelations by the intelligence services that GRU agents were behind the 2014 munitions explosions in the Vrbětice munitions depot in the Zlín region, in Moravia.