China News Agency, Moscow, April 23 (Reporter Wang Xiujun) In response to the announcement of the expulsion of Russian diplomats by the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zakharova said at a press conference held on the 22nd that Russia will soon Respond to this.

　　On April 17, the Czech Republic announced the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats. On the 18th, Russia announced its response measures to expel 20 Czech diplomats.

According to Russian media reports, after expelling each other's diplomats, the Czech Embassy in Russia only has 5 diplomats and 19 technical staff.

The Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic has 27 diplomats and 67 technicians left.

　　On the 21st, the Czech side required Russia to make a decision to allow the expelled Czech diplomats to return to Russia before 13:00 on the 22nd, Moscow time, otherwise it would take measures to reduce the number of personnel in the Russian embassy in the Czech Republic to the same number as those in the Czech embassy in Russia. equal.

Since then, the Russian side expressed its rejection of this request.

　　On the 22nd, the new Czech Foreign Minister Kulhanek stated that because Russia did not respond to the request of the Czech side, the Czech side decided to limit the number of Russian embassy in the Czech Republic to a level equivalent to the current Czech embassy in Russia.

The relevant staff of the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic must leave the Czech Republic before the end of May.

　　On the 22nd, the Slovak government office announced that in order to "support" the Czech Republic, Slovakia decided to expel three Russian diplomats and asked them to leave the country within 7 days.

　　In this regard, Zakharova said that the Czech Republic has already embarked on the path of undermining Russia-Czech relations, and Russia’s response measures will be introduced soon.

　　Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Verkhinen said on the same day that Russia will try to minimize the impact of this incident on Russian citizens in the Czech Republic for the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic.

He emphasized that the Czech Republic’s decision was based on wrong information and was made under external pressure, which is not in the interests of both parties.

Russia will respond to this.

　　Zakharova expressed disappointment at the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Slovakia on the 22nd.

She said that Slovakia has shown "hypocritical solidarity" to the Czech Republic, and Russia will soon respond to Slovakia.

　　Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament), stated that Slovakia has voluntarily become a vassal state of the United States.

The claim that Slovakia demonstrated unity with the Czech Republic by expelling three Russian diplomats is nonsense.

For this provocative behavior, Russia will soon introduce corresponding response measures.

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