The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared 20 Czech diplomats “persona non grata”.

“TASS” news agency reported.

In response to the deportation of 18 Russian diplomats from Prague, Russia declared 20 employees of the Czech Embassy in Moscow “persona non grata”. They were ordered to leave the Russian Federation by the end of 19 April, according to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Notably, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš  and the First Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček, announced on Saturday, the deportation of 18 employees of the Russian Embassy in Prague, who, according to the Czech side, are “employees of the Russian special services SVR and GRU.” The move was made in connection with the alleged circumstances of the 2014 explosion in Vrbetitsa. According to politicians, “Russian military intelligence officers of the GRU” are involved in it.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its strong protest to Prague over the move taken with “baseless and far-reaching intentions.”