The Czech Republic excludes Russia

The diplomatic dispute between Russia and the Czech Republic is widening. The Russian company Rosatom is no longer allowed to apply as a developer for the Dukovany nuclear power plant. The company spoke of a “political decision”.

The Czech Republic excludes Russia from the planned tender for the expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant in Moravia. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlicek announced that Rosatom will not be allowed to participate in a prior security clearance. This is how the cabinet decided. Rosatom spoke of a “political decision” that was not good for Czech-Russian relations. After the exclusion of the Russian group, EdF from France, KHNP from South Korea and Westinghouse from the USA are still in the running.

Order value of six billion euros

A new reactor block is to be built for the Dukovany nuclear power plant by 2036. The Czech Republic wants to become more independent of electricity from coal. The order is estimated to be worth more than six billion euros. The cabinet of Prime Minister Andrej Babis had actually agreed that the next government should not decide on the group of applicants until after the elections in October. As early as April, however, there had been a dispute between the opposition and the government in the Prague parliament about allowing Rosatom to take part in the trial at all. The National Security Council recommended that the domestic secret service investigate the applicants as part of a security process. He has always warned against the influence of Russia and China.

Diplomats were expelled

Now, from the outset, Babi’s government has excluded the Russian company as a possible property developer. The background to this is the current diplomatic rift between Prague and Moscow. The Czech Republic blamed Russia for explosions in an ammunition dump with two fatalities in 2014 and expelled 18 Russian embassy employees. Babis spoke of clear evidence that members of the Russian military intelligence service GRU were involved in the operation. Today he reiterated the charge; it was an “unprecedented terrorist attack on Czech territory”. The Kremlin rejected the Czech government’s allegations, calling the expulsion of the Russian diplomats a “provocation and an unfriendly act”. In return, Moscow expelled 20 members of the Czech embassy from the country.

Prague seeks help in Europe

The Russian backlash is now perceived in Prague as disproportionate. Interior Minister Jan Hamacek, who also heads the Foreign Office on a provisional basis, criticized the fact that his country’s relatively small embassy in Moscow was “paralyzed” in its function. He had summoned the Russian ambassador for Wednesday to convey a protest. In addition, the allies in the EU and NATO will be asked to support the work of the representation.