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Czech police detain five suspected of aiding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine: report

21.04.2021 13:30
Police in the Czech Republic have detained at least five individuals suspected of fighting in eastern Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian separatists or of supporting them financially, a Polish news agency reported on Wednesday.
Photo:
Photo: Vaclav Pancer/CTK via PAP

Those arrested may be charged with terrorism, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported, citing Czech public radio.

The detentions were made at night by officers from the National Centre for Combating Organized Crime in various locations across the country, the Czech public radio broadcaster reported, as cited by IAR.

Local police confirmed the crackdown was carried out, but provided no details, the IAR news agency added.

Officers said the case was not related to recent disclosures about explosions at an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic’s southeastern Moravia region in 2014.

Prague on Saturday announced the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian military intelligence officers were involved in the 2014 explosions.

Protesters in front of the Russian embassy in Prague on Sunday. Protesters in front of the Russian embassy in Prague on Sunday. Photo: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
Riot police stand guard as people gather to protest in front of the Russian embassy in Prague on Sunday. Riot police stand guard in front of the Russian embassy in the Czech capital as people gather to protest on Sunday. Photo: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

Top diplomats from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary this week voiced solidarity with the Czech Republic amid tensions with Russia.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR, english.radio.cz