Ukraine's foreign minister defends country’s ambassador amid dispute with Czech speaker

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has rejected criticism from his Czech counterpart Petr Macinka directed at Vasyl Zvarych, Ambassador to Czechia. Zvarych has criticised Czech parliamentary speaker Tomio Okamura over anti-Ukrainian remarks.

Source: Sybiha on Х (Twitter)

Details: Sybiha stressed that Zvarych had been "absolutely right" to respond to what he had described as offensive statements by Speaker Okamura about Ukraine and its leadership, adding that "he did so diplomatically".

Sybiha noted that all Ukrainian ambassadors are instructed to defend Ukraine's dignity.

Quote: "I therefore reject such lecturing – and instead, I urge my new Czech counterpart to constructive dialogue for the sake of strengthening the mutually beneficial Ukrainian-Czech strategic partnership."

Background:

• Macinka said he does not consider it appropriate for the ambassador of a foreign state to publicly assess statements made by one of the Czech Republic's highest constitutional officials.
• On 1 January, Zvarych criticised Okamura's remarks directed against Ukraine and its leadership.
• In his New Year address, Okamura, leader of the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party, spoke out against providing assistance to Ukraine and referred to a so-called "Zelenskyy's junta".
• Opposition parties in Czechia are preparing a vote in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower chamber of parliament, to remove Okamura.

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