PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech Republic banned Russian airways from flying to the central European nation from Saturday and is contemplating additional steps towards Russia for its invasion of Ukraine along with sanctions agreed by the European Union.
To assist Ukraine, the Czech government will ship gas and blood and launch 300 million crowns ($13.64 million) in support to refugees, Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated on Friday.
Prague may also velocity up its exit from two worldwide banks arrange within the Soviet period, whereas the Finance Ministry will analyze Russian-owned corporations’ entry to Czech public funds, Fiala stated.
On Thursday, European Union leaders agreed to impose new financial sanctions on Moscow, becoming a member of the United States and Britain as they sought to punish President Vladimir Putin and his allies for attacking Russia’s neighbour.
Fiala stated that reminiscences of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia made the Czech stance more durable than that of some western European companions.
“We are a rustic which skilled the aggressive coverage of Russia, or Soviet Union, and our distinctive historic expertise makes us a lot more delicate,” he stated.
“We debated (on the EU summit) how far ought to we go along with the sanctions, and the Czech Republic holds a more durable stance,” Fiala advised a information convention.
The flight ban impacts the Prague-Moscow and Prague-St Petersburg routes, Transport Minister Martin Kupka stated.
Fiala stated that residency permits will likely be reviewed in reference to the sanctions adopted by the EU.
The government in Prague introduced on Thursday it will shut two Russian consulates and cease issuing commonplace visas to Russians.
The Czech net area registry blocked web sites it stated have been spreading misinformation in reference to the invasion, the CZ.NIC group stated, including it acted upon advice from the government.
Russian missiles pounded Kyiv on Friday, households cowered in shelters and authorities advised residents to organize Molotov cocktails to defend Ukraine’s capital.
($1 = 21.9970 Czech crowns)
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
