„We are working intensively on the new ambassador. The current ambassador has already been dismissed. I believe that the new ambassador of the Czech Republic will appear one day,” said Lipavský on Nov. He did not want to comment on the time horizon of Pivoňk’s successor and his name, which is usual until the completion of the relevant process. According to earlier media speculation, diplomat and former deputy at the Ministry of Defense Daniel Koštoval could join Moscow.
Constitutional officials have been debating for a long time whether to have an ambassador in Moscow during the current Russian military aggression in Ukraine. President Petr Pavel stated at the end of March that it was a matter between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government and the Castle. “For a long time, I have perceived the importance of having representation at the level of ambassador in Russia as well. The question is whether at this particular time the situation is right for it,” said the president. Considering the length of the process, it might be good to work on the preparations now, he thinks. “And when a suitable situation arises, implement it,” he added.
The media speculated that the government could discuss the issue of ambassadors at its meeting on March 27, but Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) refused to comment on it then. “I can’t break the law. Broadcasting to embassies is always in classified mode until a certain moment. So I can’t comment on these things in any way“, he stated.
The server Lidovky.cz wrote at the time that Koštoval could take the diplomatic post in Moscow. Pivoňka has been operating in Russia since 2018, in addition, it has been located in Prague since 2022, and the Czech Republic is represented by diplomats at a lower level, he added.
The Czech Republic has had strained diplomatic relations with Russia since 2021 after the Czech secret services and investigators discovered that Russian secret service agents were involved in the 2014 explosions in ammunition warehouses in Vrbětice in the Zlín region. The number of Russian diplomats in the Czech Republic continued to decrease even after the Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Six diplomats worked at the Russian embassy in Prague last year.
Lipavský na Nov also said that the Czech representative is not preparing for Tuesday’s inauguration of Vladimir Putin, who will assume the new presidential mandate. “I do not think that our current relations are suitable for our current chargé d’affaires (Jan) Ondřejka to participate in such a ceremony” said the minister.
