Czech leader bans US envoy from his castle

The Czech Republic’s president has decreed that the top U.S. diplomat in his country cannot visit his castle in Prague.

The BBC reported Saturday that Czech President Milos Zeman has blacklisted U.S. Ambassador Andrew Schapiro over a spat concerning Zeman’s friendly overtures toward Russia.

{mosads}The leader allegedly felt slighted by Schapiro’s remarks about an upcoming trip to Moscow. Zeman plans to attend a May celebration of World War II’s end there, and Schapiro was quoted in the Czech media as saying it would “be awkward” if Zeman were the only European Union present in attendance.

“I cannot imagine the Czech ambassador in Washington would advise the U.S. president where he should travel,” Zeman told Czech news portal Parlamentni Listy.

“And I will not allow any ambassador to have a say in my foreign travel plans,” he concluded.

Zeman added that Schapiro had “overstepped his mark.”

Many heads of state are boycotting the event over concerns about Moscow’s involvement in Ukraine. U.S senators have also joined those calling for Moscow to be stripped of its World Cup hosting duties in 2018.

Zeman declared “the doors of the castle” are closed to the U.S. envoy, but presidential spokesman Jiri Ovcacek said Schapiro could still visit for social events.

Zeman is the Czech Republic’s first directly elected president. He assumed office in 2013.

The State Department has declined comment on Zeman’s snub.