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Peskov says Prague, Sofia take schizophrenic stance in diplomatic row with Russia

The Kremlin official said that groundless charges against Russia or any other country "are automatically devalued" and backfire on those who make such accusations

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov EPA/MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© EPA/MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL

MOSCOW, April 29. /TASS/. The way the Czech Republic and Bulgaria act in relations with Russia cause annoyance, regret and misunderstanding and also the wish to see some changes to this "schizophrenic stance" at last, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the Great Game talk show on Russia’s TV Channel One on Thursday.

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"It goes without saying that Prague’s and Sofia’s actions cause a) annoyance, b) regret, and c) misunderstanding," Peskov said. He also mentioned the wish to see some changes to this "schizophrenic stance" at last.

The Kremlin official said that Moscow’s reaction to the current situation was "rather vigorous." He stated that the Czech Republic and Bulgaria should be aware that serious charges against Russia or any other country must be well-founded, because otherwise "they are automatically devalued and backfire on those who make such accusations."

"The charges against Russia are nonsense. They have no grounds to rely on. They are lies. We categorically dismiss such charges," Peskov said.

At the same time he expressed satisfaction that in this particular case "aggressive European solidarity" did not dominate and many EU countries were trying to make a balanced and soberly-minded judgement of the situation and to use only the hard facts.

"Of course, we are aware that a certain group of new-comers to the European Union has for many years demonstrated a rather hostile attitude towards Russia, but we hope that this sentiment in the end will be counterbalanced by those countries that constitute the backbone of the EU and are inclined to make sober analysis," the Kremlin spokesman said.

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