Russia Steps Up Efforts To Restore Influence In Czechia Through New Ambassador Expert

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Pavel Havlíček, a research fellow at the Association for International Affairs (Prague), said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

According to the analyst, after taking charge of the diplomatic mission, Ponomaryova has already begun working to restore ties that were significantly weakened following previous diplomatic scandals and a reduction in the size of the Russian diplomatic staff.

“With the arrival of the new ambassador, we are seeing a clear attempt to restore old contacts and networks. Czech intelligence services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be extremely cautious. At present, we do not see active contacts at the highest government level, but this normalization could develop through right-wing and radical circles. In addition, the so-called 'Russian House' in Prague is still operating, and the Kremlin will try to use it as a platform to promote its interests and spread harmful narratives under the guise of culture,” Havlíček stressed.

Read also: Czech expert: Expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats from Hungary will weaken Kremlin's intelligence capabilitie

As reported, in December 2025, Anna Ponomaryova was appointed Russia's new ambassador to Czechia. She had previously worked at the Russian diplomatic mission in Prague from 2012 to 2016 and later served as deputy director of the Third European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Photo: Kateřina Cibulka, Czech Radio

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