Zakharova says Czech authorities are expelling Russian diplomats to cover up attempt on Lukashenka
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said on air of the TV channel “Russia-1” that the West allegedly wanted to “cover up” information about the coup attempt in Belarus by expelling Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic.
“There is a strong feeling, which is indeed backed up by factual material, that in the information space, primarily in the West, our Western partners had to do so in order to block out the importance and relevance of the information that was published by both Russia and the Republic of Belarus regarding not just a plot, but a plan for a constitutional coup,” Maria Zakharova explained.
According to her, the Czech authorities have demonstrated their lack of independence in international affairs and relations with Russia. She also promised to quickly announce Russia’s steps in response to the expulsion of diplomats from the Czech Republic.
On April 17, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that Belarusian opposition politicians Alyaksandr Fyaduta, Ryhor Kastusiou, and Yury Zyankovich, previously detained in Belarus and Russia, had been allegedly preparing a coup d’etat and an attempt on Lukashenka with the help of American special services. This information was then confirmed by the KGB of Belarus and the FSB of Russia.
On April 16th, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he knew nothing about either Fyaduta or Zyankovich.
Meanwhile, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek has announced that the country would expel 18 Russian diplomats. Also, the Czech police declared the alleged GRU officers Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov wanted. The minister said the Czech Republic “has reasonable suspicions” that Russian special services were involved in the 2014 explosion of ammunition depots in Vrbětice. The country decided to expel those identified as employees of the Russian secret services of the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia.
belsat.eu
