PRAGUE

The Czech Republic ordered a Russian Orthodox priest Wednesday to leave the country within a month when a local court rejected his appeal against the cancellation of his permanent residence permit, according to media reports.

“The decision came into force on 25 August 2023. The foreign national was given a 30-day deadline to leave after the decision came into force,” Hana Mala, from the Czech Interior Ministry communication department, told Czech state media, CTK.

Nikolai Lishchenyuk was declared persona non grata by the Interior Ministry last August, citing security concerns linked to his alleged involvement in giving support to separatism in the EU with the support of Moscow.

Lishchenyuk challenged the decision, however, the Regional Court in Plzen in west Bohemia, rejected his lawsuit, and the Supreme Administrative Court subsequently ruled that the appeal was inadmissible.

The Constitutional Court then rejected the complaint on June 12, added Mala.

The Czech Republic, a member of the EU and NATO, has maintained a strong anti-Russian stance in reaction to Moscow's war against Ukraine. Like many Western nations, the Czech Republic has provided military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of the war in early 2022.

The Czech Republic has earlier accused Russia of carrying out “higher dozens” of cyberattacks. In addition, Czech police have also blamed Russia for being behind two blasts at an eastern Czech ammunition depot in 2014 that killed two workers.​​​​​​​