Baltic formins affirm solidarity with Czech Republic

RIGA – The three Baltic states on Monday expressed collective solidarity with the Czech Republic in relation to the illegal activities of Russia’s intelligence services in the Czech Republic -- their involvement in causing explosions at the Vrbetice ammunition depot in 2014, the Latvian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry informed that Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets and Lithuania's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnoldas Pranckevicius had a video conference with Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek.

The three Baltic ministers congratulated Kulhanek on assuming his post. 

Kulhanek thanked the Baltic states for their solidarity and the decision to expel four members of Russia’s intelligence services.

As reported, in solidarity with the Czech Republic and on consulting allies in the EU and NATO, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia last week announced an expulsion of Russian diplomats. 

Last week, the Czech government reported, citing an intelligence report, that Russia's military intelligence agency (GRU) was behind two explosions in the country in 2014, with one killing two people and causing significant material damage.

Because of that the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian diplomats considering them secret agents. It also announced on Thursday that another 63 staff members of the Russian Embassy would have to leave Prague for the number of staff members at the Russian Embassy to be quall to the number of staff members at the Czech Embassy in Moscow.

The Czech government also asked partners for solidarity and to expel part of alleged agents working at Russian representations in EU and NATO capitals.