Photo: Zuma/TASS
The Czech government has approved the freezing of Russian state property. As the country’s Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on social networks, this was done at his suggestion.
The Czech authorities, according to Czech media, supported the inclusion of the company for the management of Russian assets abroad FSUE Goszagransobstvo, which is directly subordinate to the Departments of the President of the Russian Federation, in the national sanctions list.
“This company manages many Russian-owned real estate properties in the Czech Republic. … All commercial activities of FSUE Goszagranstvo, including leasing, are now illegal. Adding to the sanctions list will lead to the freezing of all assets owned by the company in the Czech Republic or otherwise controlled by it,” Lipavsky was quoted as saying by the media.
According to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, now Russia will not be able to dispose of real estate owned by it in the country. These are mainly objects in Prague and Karlovy Vary. In addition, it is prohibited to use accounts that receive rent payments.
Tenants of the facilities will be able to continue working, and the fee will have to be sent to the sanctioned account. Lipavsky believes that there will be no retaliatory actions on the part of Russia, since the Czech Republic does not have such property in the Russian Federation.
Fiala added that Prague will seek similar steps from others at the European level. The Czech Republic was the first country to freeze Russian real estate located abroad.
At the same time, according to Lipavsky, the freezing of Russian state property in the Czech Republic will not affect the diplomatic representation of Russia. These are at least four objects out of the total number.
According to presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the decisions of the Czech authorities are illegal from the point of view of international law. The situation is being analyzed and retaliatory measures are not excluded. The Kremlin representative also noted that “the anti-Russian position of the Czech authorities is absolutely perplexing” and Russia “categorically rejects it.”
Andrey Baklanov, Deputy Chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, considers the decision of the Czech authorities to be a matter of internal interaction between the European community, both civil and military.
— There is a certain redistribution of functions: who, when and what injections will be engaged in order to constantly maintain the bar of ill-will towards Russia. These countries want to present themselves as a very important component of European and NATO solidarity, so they do not refuse when they are offered some kind of hostile action.
The trouble is that we don’t react well. More and more with some kind of notes, statements. I think we should have moved on a long time ago — not five or ten years ago — to a tougher deal with these former dubious partners of ours.
“SP”: How legitimate are such steps? Or have the “partners” already forgotten about the law?
— The state has the right to make any decisions in accordance with its legislation, including those related to property. But this is always done in conjunction with the development of bilateral relations and international obligations. The latter, as a rule, prevent such decisions.
Now a different approach is being taken as a basis — an anti-Russian one. It is considered to be a more important aspect than any traditional, moral or paper-based obligations of the parties. They can be reviewed. Another thing is that the right of the country to which this is directed is to react accordingly. Hard.
This contradicts not only diplomatic etiquette, but even elementary interaction between states. I think we need to react more harshly, visibly. I do not see such an answer, and this, in my opinion of a professional diplomat, is an unfortunate mistake in doing business with these countries. They don’t understand a good language, but we are still counting on some kind of explanation of the position.
They are not doing this out of ignorance. This is permissiveness and a rush on us.
“SP”: Can other countries support such a step?
— If there is no harsh reaction from us, then others will follow this path.
“SP”: Will the Czech authorities take similar measures with regard to the private property of Russians?
— I think so. It would be logical. Our citizens have a lot of personal property there. Since we are already talking about elements of an expropriatory nature, this can be extended to the state, corporate, and personal property.
Our president warned at the time not to get carried away with foreign property. They didn’t listen.
But we need to react anyway. It is necessary to protect any aspect related to our state and our citizens.
Kirill Koktysh, Associate Professor of the MGIMO Department of Political Theory, is not surprised by such decisions, since Peter Pavel is the president of the country.
— Pavel has never been distinguished by outstanding characteristics and has made a career as a conformist all his life. It can be assumed that there are both formal and informal instruments of influence against him — compromising, perhaps something else. He has nothing to lose, he has always been a function man, and the Czech Republic is not very important to him in this regard, for him it is a point of application of political technologies, nothing more. They told him to pave such a path, he followed the command.
Its function is to test, to check the strength of the EU — where and how it can be bent. The question is who ordered him.
“SP”: Do I understand correctly that Pavel “lowered” the received order below, and Lipavsky has already made this statement?
— He could have let it down. This is a matter of internal bureaucracy. It is voiced, it should make an impression. I think that Russia does not have significant state ownership in the Czech Republic. The action is rather symbolic, which should show that Prague can do something against Moscow.
“SP”: Will other countries respond to the call to take the same measures?
— That’s the calculation. That in the heat of the moment there will be idiots who will try to repeat it. Or dependents who can be ordered.
“SP”: Can the decision be extended to the property of ordinary Russians?
— I think this is a cherished dream. Then you can try to fill your pockets.
“SP”: But this is a robbery!
– of course. So it is in the best European traditions. They were always added by robbery.
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