The Czech Republic is banning Russians with diplomatic or service passports from entering the country, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský announced on Tuesday.

“The number of sabotage operations is increasing – and we will not risk agents operating under diplomatic cover,” he wrote on X after a Cabinet meeting in Prague.

According to the ministry, few of the diplomats who are officially accredited in the country were exempted, exemptions will also be permitted in individual cases, for example to allow for negotiations with an international organisation.

The Czech Republic has been pushing for some time for EU measures to deprive Russian diplomats of their freedom of movement in the Schengen area.

Soon after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic moved to almost completely suspend the issuance of new visas and residence permits to Russian nationals who do not hold a diplomatic passport.