Czech Republic Takes Legal Action Against Russia for Unpaid Rent on Embassy Properties

The Czech Republic has filed a lawsuit against Russia for unpaid rent on communist-era buildings that are still being used by Moscow diplomats. The lawsuit claims that Russia has profited from "unjustified enrichment" of over €2 million in the past three years. The Czech government canceled active agreements with Russia made in the 1970s and 1980s, which allowed the Soviet Union to use the land for free. The decision affects 59 plots of land, and the Czech Republic is now seeking lease agreements or other solutions that are more beneficial. The strained diplomatic relations between the two countries have been further exacerbated by the 2014 explosion of an ammunition warehouse in the Czech Republic, which was linked to Russian agents.