The spies contacted nongovernmental organizations, politicians and the media in the past year about the U.S. missile facility, the Czech Security Information Service, or BIS, said in its annual report. It provided few other details.
The Czech Republic's three intelligence services chiefs have been summoned to the parliament's lower chamber to provide details on the spies at a defense committee meeting Oct. 1, lawmaker Jan Vidim said.
Vidim said he was not surprised at the presence of Russian spies.
"What's surprising is how openly and clearly the BIS says that the Russians have been trying to influence the public. They have to be pretty sure about it," Vidim said.
The agency's report said it believed that the Russian activities were part of a broader, long-term campaign to damage the integrity of the European Union and renew Russian control over the territory in Europe it once dominated, the report said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.