Putin’s Night Wolves “Not Welcomed”, Says Czech Interior Minister

Russian bikers “Night Wolves”, who are linked to President Vladimir Putin, are not welcome in the Czech Republic, says Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN) to N daily.

Police do not yet have information that the Russian motorcycle club is planning to come to the Czech Republic this year, but “they have the option of revoking their visas and expelling them from the country,” added Rakušan.

Every year, the Night Wolves travel all the way from Moscow to Berlin, paying homage to Red Army soldiers who died in World War II, but critics see their rides as politically provocative and Russian propaganda.

After two years of pandemic, they are planning events in the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Slovakia. They are due to arrive in Ostrava on May 2.

According to the Rakušan, however, the “Putin supporters are not welcome in the Czech Republic and their presence is not appropriate”.

“We do not even have official information that a commemorative act should take place in a number of Czech and Moravian towns and cities,” police presidium spokesperson Ondřej Moravčík told N daily.

“We have the authority to cancel short-term visas in case the legal conditions are met. However, this procedure cannot be applied in advance – a person can only cancel a short-term visa if he or she is actually controlled on the territory of the Czech Republic,” Moravčík added.

Every year, dozens of Czechs, mainly pro-Russian activists, take part in Night Wolves appearances. The most visible Czech politician who regularly takes part in these events is SPD MP Jaroslav Foldyna.