Relationship dossier
Czech Republic
Russia
Relationship assessment
Severe security disputes and diplomatic retaliation have left Czech-Russian relations highly adversarial.
Czech Republic toward Russia
-70The Czech government expelled 18 Russian diplomats in April 2021 after attributing the 2014 Vrbětice explosions to Russian military intelligence. Czech policy has also supported sanctions against Russia and assistance to Ukraine, reinforcing the political divide.
Russia toward Czech Republic
-80Russian military intelligence was identified by the Czech government as responsible for the 2014 Vrbětice explosions. In response to the Czech expulsions of Russian diplomats in 2021, Russia imposed restrictions on the Czech embassy and designated the Czech Republic an unfriendly state.
Overall relationship
-75The relationship is shaped by a major security confrontation over the Vrbětice explosions, followed by reciprocal diplomatic measures and a steep reduction in diplomatic engagement. Czech support for sanctions and Ukraine adds to the adversarial political setting.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Czech-Russian relations are marked by severe security disputes and sharply reduced diplomatic ties. In 2021, the Czech government expelled 18 Russian diplomats after attributing the 2014 Vrbětice ammunition-depot explosions to Russian military intelligence. Russia retaliated with restrictions on the Czech embassy. Czech support for Ukraine and the wider sanctions response has further deepened the political divide.
Areas of tension
- Czech attribution of the 2014 Vrbětice explosions to Russian military intelligence
- Reciprocal diplomat expulsions and Russian restrictions on the Czech embassy
- Czech support for sanctions against Russia and assistance to Ukraine
Key developments
The Czech government expelled 18 Russian diplomats, saying they were intelligence officers, after attributing the 2014 Vrbětice explosions to Russian military intelligence.
Russia retaliated against Czech diplomatic measures by restricting the Czech embassy and designating the Czech Republic an unfriendly state.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of current diplomatic and consular contacts is unclear.
- The extent of continuing bilateral cooperation outside security and political disputes is unclear.