Czechia appoints new ambassador to Russia after three-year gap
Photo: Czechia appoints new ambassador to Russia after a three-year pause (Getty Images)
Czechia has appointed a new ambassador to Moscow. Daniel Koštoval has been selected for the position, according to the press service of the Czech Foreign Ministry.
As noted by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new ambassador will begin his duties in the first months of next year. He has already received an agrément from 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.
Daniel Koštoval began working at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996, holding positions as the Director of the Security Policy Department, Director of the Department for Northern and Eastern Europe, and Director General for Non-European Countries. From 1998 to 2002, he worked at the Czech Permanent Representation to NATO, and from 2003 to 2006, he served at the Czech Embassy in Moscow. From 2009 to 2011, he worked at the Czech Embassy in Washington.
In 2013, Koštoval was appointed the First Deputy Minister of Defense, where he dealt with issues related to strategy, foreign relations, and planning until 2018, and later focused on arms and procurement.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Czechia proposed to limit the movement of Russian diplomats in the Schengen Area. Czechia is also trying to include this requirement in the 13th sanctions package against Russia that the European Union is preparing. Currently, Prague is gathering support for its proposal.
