The Czech authorities are planning to deport Alexander Stepanov, a native of Russia who has been living in the Czech Republic for nearly 20 years, citing his connections with Russia and potential threat to Czechia, as reported by Deník N.
Since 2018, he has been heading the Coordination Council of Associations of Compatriots of the Czech Republic.
According to Czech authorities, Stepanov had contacts with Russian diplomats involved in the “ricin scandal” of 2020.
During that incident, a Russian diplomat brought the toxic substance ricin to the Czech Republic and attempted to frame his colleague, with whom he had a dispute, alleging that the colleague was involved in a conspiracy to assassinate three Prague politicians – the conspiracy turned out to be entirely fabricated.
Both Russian diplomats were expelled from the Czech Republic in connection with this case.
Stepanov denies collaborating with Russian intelligence services and has been trying to challenge this decision in court for a year now.
According to the publication, the authorities have decided to revoke his permanent residency in the Czech Republic based on secret information obtained from Czech intelligence services.
In recent years, the Security Information Service (BIS) has noted Russia’s interest in its compatriot community in the Czech Republic.
“By collecting information and creating networks of influence, the Russian state authorities have mainly sought to marginalize anti-Kremlin expatriates and to strengthen the influence of compatriot organizations sympathetic to the current political representation of the Russian Federation,” BIS reported in its annual report for 2018.
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