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PRAGUE — Czech President Milos Zeman and the U.S. ambassador to Prague are in a rare public dispute over Zeman’s decision to attend a Russian military parade despite a European Union boycott over Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

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The dispute arose after the ambassador, Andrew Shapiro, pointed out Zeman risks being the only official from the European Union to attend the May 9 parade.

In an emailed statement from the U.S. embassy, Shapiro said “it would be unfortunate for President Zeman to be there as perhaps the only EU head of state.”

Zeman bristled and banned Shapiro from the Prague Castle, the seat of presidency.

“I cannot imagine that the Czech ambassador in Washington would advise the U.S. president where he should travel,” Zeman said in an interview with online publication Parlamentni Listy on Sunday.

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

Zeman, whose is critical of European Union sanctions against Russia, said he wanted to honour Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives to liberate his country in World War II.

The Czech presidency is a largely ceremonial post and the government is in charge of foreign policy. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he accepted Zeman’s explanation for the trip.

Of the EU countries, only the top representatives of Cyprus and Greece will go to Moscow.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will only fly to Moscow on May 10, one day after the main celebrations.