An unknown assailant threw several Molotov cocktails at the Russian House, a cultural centre in Prague, late on Thursday. The building, which promotes Russian culture and history, did not catch fire, but one window was broken and two others were partially covered with smoke, according to a police photograph.
Czech police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway. The Russian House is funded by the Russian state but does not have diplomatic status. It organises cultural, educational and scientific programmes and offers Russian language courses.
Igor Girenko, the centre's director, told Russian state news agency Tass that three of the six Molotov cocktails failed to explode. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the attack as “a barbaric act”.
The Russian embassy in Prague has asked Czech authorities to boost security for Russian institutions and their employees in the country. Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar called the attack “unacceptable” and confirmed the matter is under investigation, adding that authorities are ready to take further measures if necessary.
