Czechia will send Daniel Koštoval, a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in security and international relations, as its new ambassador to Moscow in the coming months.
Koštoval’s appointment comes at a critical time for Czech-Russian relations, which have been strained since 2021 following revelations of Russian involvement in the 2014 munitions dump explosions in the country and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Despite these tensions, Czech officials have stressed the importance of maintaining a diplomatic presence in Russia.
“Key countries that are strategic allies of Czechia-such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, and the United States-have ambassadors in Russia. I wish the ambassador much strength in this challenging mission to advance Czech interests,” said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Independent) in a press statement on Tuesday.
Lipavský defended the decision to send an ambassador, arguing that the absence of a diplomat would not benefit the Czech Republic.
“It may seem strange for an ambassador to operate in a relationship that is frozen, but our absence would not be to our advantage,” Lipavský added in an interview with the Czech Television.
Lipavský also stressed that his country must continue to defend its interests globally, even in difficult environments.
Koštoval’s diplomatic career spans a number of high-profile roles, including positions at the Czech Foreign Ministry, NATO, and the Czech embassy in Washington, DC. He served as deputy minister of defence for strategy and international relations from 2013 to 2018 and later handled defence procurement.
Koštoval has already received formal approval from the Russian government and is expected to take up his post early next year.
Czech leaders have debated the decision to appoint a new ambassador, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine. In June, resident Petr Pavel signed the official document initiating Koštoval’s posting. The previous Czech ambassador to Russia, Vítězslav Pivoňka, was recalled by the government in May.
Lipavský underscored that maintaining an ambassador in Moscow aligns with Czechia’s broader diplomatic strategy. “Czechia must defend its interests everywhere it can,” he said.
(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)
Source: euractiv.com
