Three Czech generals, who recently left the military, were forced out because of an alleged Russian spying case, a newspaper report said Tuesday.
The daily Mlada Fronta Dnes, citing a "trustworthy" unnamed source knowledgeable about the case, reported that the three top officers had to leave because a female major, who became their office manager, had contact with a Russian spy, DPA reported.
It was unclear whether the young major serving at the army headquarters in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc knew that her friend was spying for Russia and whether she had provided him with any relevant information, the report said.
The newspaper said that the alleged spy, identified only as Robert R, "worked as a psychologist at one Czech state institution" and escaped to Russia after being found out.
The three generals, who officially left the military at their own request, are Josef Sedlak, 50, the former Czech representative with the NATO command in Belgium; Josef Proks, 50, the former deputy chief of staff; and Frantisek Hrabal, 53, the former head of President Vaclav Klaus` military office.
Sedlak told the newspaper that he was barred from commenting on his departure by a confidentiality clause, but he admitted to being de facto sacked. "I did not count on it," the report quoted him as saying.
"If there was information that someone from my aides is in touch with a spy, the intelligence should have told me to protect me," he continued. "And not that they follow me like a rogue and relish in how an agent is trying, through a third person, to get close to us or obtain important information."
Proks stepped down late last year and at the time was reported to have allegedly done so over scandals in Czech foreign missions.
Hrabal, who had been investigated in recent years for alleged mismanagement of army funds, departed from his post this spring without giving any reason.
The president`s office may react to the report later Tuesday, spokesman Radim Ochvat said.