Baku/21.04.21/Turan: The available evidence clearly indicates that Russian intelligence officers were behind the explosions in the ammunition warehouse in Vrbětice. This is not only a serious crime that has led to the loss of innocent Czech lives, a general threat and enormous material damage, but is also a blatant violation of Czech sovereignty and international law. This is stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in a statement on current events in the Czech-Russian relations.
The statement says that the Czech Republic had no choice but to respond appropriately to this hostile act. Therefore, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček, in his capacity as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with the highest constitutional officials, decided to expel the staff of the Russian Embassy in Prague, whom the Czech Republic identified as SVR and GRU agents. He also informed our allies in the EU and NATO about the nature of the case. The Czech Republic appreciates all the expressions of solidarity it has received from its partners and allies. Negotiations for the further possible coordinated approach are ongoing.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic strongly opposes the steps taken by Russia against the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow. Given the context of the events in Vrbětice, it considers these steps to be completely inadequate and disproportionate, deliberately aimed at paralysing the functioning of the embassy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic reserves the right to take further steps that will respond to the seriousness of the Russian Federation's action towards the Czech Republic.--0--
Politics
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The announcement of 2025 as the "Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty" in Azerbaijan has sparked rumors and speculation about the government's plans to hold a constitutional referendum this year. Today's statement in the Milli Majlis by the head of the parliamentary committee on human rights and concurrently the director of the Center for Humanitarian Studies, Zahid Oruj, confirmed that these expectations are not groundless.
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As part of the peace process with Azerbaijan, Armenia has proposed solutions to all agenda issues, stated Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of Armenia's Security Council, on January 23. "We are not asking for peace, we are offering peaceful solutions to all existing issues. For the two unresolved points, we have sent proposals and are waiting for a response from the Azerbaijani side. We hope that we will find solutions," Grigoryan said, according to Armenian media. Meanwhile, the press service of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Turan that "negotiations on the text of the peace agreement are ongoing."
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On January 23, Hilal Mammadov, a member of the Board of the Public Council of Talysh of Azerbaijan (OSTA), was interrogated by the State Security Service (SGB) as a witness in the case of researcher Igbal Abilov, who is accused of treason. As reported by Turan, Mammadov was questioned about Abilov's activities, scientific works, and publications.
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On 23 January, the Khatai district court of Baku did not satisfy a petition to transfer 'Meydan TV' journalist Aytaj Tapdyg under house arrest. This was reported to Turan by lawyer Javad Javadov.
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