Thousands of Russians marched through Prague on Saturday, waving the white-blue-white flag that has become a symbol of protests against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Carrying signs that read “Killer” over a picture of President Vladimir Putin and chanting “No to War”, protesters walked from Prague’s Peace Square through the centre of the Czech capital. Police put the number of marchers at about 3,000. “We are against Putin,” said Alexander Sibrimov, a 19-year-old student who attended the protest with his father. “We don’t agree with his politics. This is a way to show the world that the things happening in Ukraine are not right.” Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” its neighbor, and denies targeting civilians. Ukraine and its Western allies have called that a baseless pretext for an unprovoked invasion. The Czech Republic is home to 45,000 Russians, the fourth-largest foreign community in the former communist-ruled country. Nearly 200,000 Ukrainians lived in the Czech Republic – making them the biggest foreign community – before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. The Czech government estimates 300,000 Ukrainians have fled to the country. “This is an act to show the Czech Republic and...
The Czech Republic is beginning to absorb the refugee crisis. The data of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs show that companies have already employed over 7,400 Ukrainian refugees. According to the ministry, people fleeing the Russian aggression most often started as assembly workers, warehouse workers, helpers in production or transport, cleaning and food production. The Czech Republic has granted over 226,000 special visas to refugees fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine, according to newly released data by the Interior Ministry. The migration police on Thursday reported over 122,000 registered refugees, with nearly 53,000 of that number in Prague. The overall number of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic is estimated to be nearly 300,000. Almost 50 percent of them are children, and four-fifths of the adults are women. Czechs who offer to accommodate refugees in their own homes or vacant apartments will receive a contribution of 3,000 crowns per person per month to cover costs, the Czech government announced on Wednesday.
The Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovenia have prepared a list of measures the EU should carry out to end the war in Ukraine, including granting Russian deserters asylum. The EU, US and other Western democracies have already imposed harsh sanctions on Russia, but Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia would like to go even further. “If we want to restore peace, Putin needs to know where the red line is — the line he cannot cross,” Morawiecki said. “The fact that Russia has a nuclear arsenal cannot be an excuse for passivity,” he added. “We must be cognizant of this threat, but it cannot hold us back,” Morawiecki said, adding that “otherwise, Putin will only go further.” According to the prime minister, the plan prepared by Warsaw, Prague and Ljubljana is both viable and necessary. First, we must cut off all Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system. Otherwise, the Russian economy will adapt to the new conditions within a few weeks. Second, we must put in place a common asylum policy for Russian soldiers who refuse to serve the criminal regime in Moscow. Third, we must completely stop Russian propaganda in Europe. Freedom of speech does not mean...
“As Czech Republic, we understand that we are one of the priority countries. Those people seek refuge where it is linguistically and culturally close to them,” states Czech Labor Minister Marian Jurečka. Czechs who offer to accommodate refugees in their own homes or vacant apartments will receive a contribution of 3,000 crowns per person per month to cover costs, the Czech government announced on Wednesday. Discussing the help available for refugees in an interview with the SeznamZprávy news outlet, Czech Labor Minister Marian Jurečka explained that the government expects part reimbursement of the cost from the European Commission through the EU budget. “The ceiling amount of 12,000 crowns can already cover the basic costs,” Jurečka said about the maximum amount someone can claim from the state for housing refugees. “Those people will also have access to the labor market and will be able to pay some of their future income, but we leave it to the agreement between them and those who sheltered them,” said the minister. “Mandatory quotas have not been discussed in Brussels in three weeks. We do not consider this mechanism. As the Czech Republic, we understand that we are one of the priority countries,” Jurečka explained....
Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war to the Czech Republic got a fresh morale booster this week as a new radio station based in Prague started offering broadcasts in Ukrainian. The new channel called Radio Ukrajina broadcasts news, tips for refugees, music and fairy tales for children, as well as spiritual comfort passed on by Ukrainian churches. Run by the Media Bohemia group comprising several radio stations, it broadcasts from an office building in central Prague via a mobile app and on the internet. “It’s a solidarity radio,” said on-air manager Natalia Churikova, who spent 27 years working for the Prague-based, US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “We are targeting Ukrainian war refugees who have moved here and trying to give them information they need to start a new life here before they can go back home, which we hope will eventually happen,” she told AFP. The Czech Republic has received more than 300,000 refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. A graphic artist and singer, Sofia Tatomyr left Ukraine for Prague two days later following an invitation by her worried aunt who lives in Prague. The 22-year-old, hailing from the western Ukrainian city of Kalush is working for the radio...
A part of Prague’s Korunovační street, which runs by the Russian Embassy, will be renamed “Ukrainian heroes” street. The renaming was proposed by the administration of Prague 6. City representatives called on the City Hall Council to approve the decision on Thursday. The change will not be a complication for the residents, because no one lives in the part of the street next to Boris Nemtsov Square. “We also approved the request to rename the bridge between Prague 6 and Prague 7 to ‘Most Vitalije Skakuna,’ ” Prague 6 District Mayor Ondřej Kolář (TOP) wrote on his Twitter account. Vitaliy Skakun is a Ukrainian soldier who died when he blew up a bridge in front of the Russian invasion army advancing on Kherson. Not only Prague City authorities in Oslo also took a historical decision to name the street crossing by the Russian Embassy ‘Ukraine Square.’ The decision will not result in an address change for local residents. But it is likely to appear an information sign about the name, newspaper Aftenposten reports. Oslo is not the first city that renames streets and squares near Russian embassies. Earlier this week, city authorities in Vilnius, Lithuania, decided that the Russian embassy road is to...
If your day doesn’t start until you’re up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to our new morning fix. State-owned energy giant ČEZ, has announced that it will be investing CZK 3.5 billion into the Czech Republic’s Temelín nuclear power plant this year. One of the largest investments will be used to replace the plant’s control systems. On Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of sending a 2,000 strong Czech Army NATO contingent to Slovakia, whose task it is to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A new bridge over the Vltava River, which is supposed to connect Prague 4 and 5 in the future, could be named after the Prague-born US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who has died at the age of 84. The City of Prague reported that the Municipal Library (MKP) has opened a completely self-service library kiosk in Černý Most Centre. Readers can sit in the 29-square-metre space, leaf through texts, and borrow or return books. At the moment, the kiosk has a collection featuring over 1,000 titles. The head of the Interior Ministry, Vít Rakušan (STAN), appointed six members...
Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his former adviser Jana Nagyová are facing potential prison terms in the Čapí hnízdo (Stork Nest) case, which is being pursued by Prague prosecutor Jaroslav Šaroch. However, even if he is convicted, he may have constitutional grounds for becoming president, a position he is likely to seek in the upcoming election. According to the indictment, Babiš illegally drew a subsidy worth 50 million crowns and used it to build the Stork Nest. In an interview with the SeznamZprávy news outlet, constitutional lawyer Jan Kysela stated that Babiš could become Czech president even if he was convicted. As stated by lidovky.cz news outlet, Babiš is accused of subsidy fraud and damage to the financial interests of the EU, while the actions of Nagyová are qualified as helping Babiš in this criminal activity. Babiš and Nagyová have been rejecting such accusations for a long time. Babiš meets the basic requirements to run for president Constitutional lawyer Jan Kysela commented on what the lawsuit means in terms of Babiš’s presidential candidacy. Babiš is one of the favorites in the upcoming elections, which will take place at the beginning of 2023. According to Kysela, it is presumed that a person facing criminal charges would not...
Find out what is going on this weekend in Prague. Party, exhibitions, food festival, theatre, games for families, films and much more. The events and things to do in Prague this weekend. Karlín Soup Festival For hungry stomachs, we do recommend visiting Karlín Market this Sunday where the first edition of the Karlín Soup Festival will take place. You will be warmed up not only by traditional Czech soups such as potato soup, cabbage soup or tripe soup but also you will have the opportunity to taste soups from all over the world – the very popular Pho, chipotle, bouillabaisse, various types of cream soups and broths. Moreover, live music and fun program for children and adults will make this afternoon event even more enjoyable. Seasons opening Prague Zoo This Saturday, there will be the grand opening of the 91st season of Zoo Prague. Visitors will be able to enjoy a fashion show of children’s uniforms, which will be available for purchase on the spot, and a special collection of shirts with the motif of pangolins (also known as scaly anteaters) and authentic African dresses made from fabrics imported directly from Cameroon. Other events include the launch of...
Petr Fiala told The Daily Beast that Western allies need to rush more anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to halt the Russian advance. Petr Fiala has powerful early memories of tanks. In August of 1968, the Soviet Army invaded Czechoslovakia and crushed an uprising against the Soviet Union’s dictatorial rule. More than 100 people died in the street while resisting the soldiers. Back then, Fiala was just 4 years old, but he can still recall his parents’ shock and distress, which lingered long after the Soviet soldiers had withdrawn to their nearby barracks. Now, Fiala is 57 and prime minister of the Czech Republic, which split peacefully from Slovakia in 1993. The Soviet invasion that went down in history as the “Prague Spring” has left Fiala extremely vigilant when it comes to Russia. This is why Fiala did not hesitate when the idea of going to war-torn Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came up at the European Union summit in Versailles. “I saw the Soviet tanks in the streets of Prague and I know very well what it did to my country for the next 20 years. I don’t want to see Russian tanks here or anywhere else in Europe again,”...
On Sunday, April 3, Prague will host a large-scale concert in support of Ukraine. The concert on Letná plain will see the participation of famous Czech musical groups, public figures, artists, and athletes. The event starts at 15:00. Admission is free. The organizers are different Czech NGOs and the Ukrainian Embassy in Prague. In addition to the stage, the whole area will be equipped with the “Aid Market”: several tents where participants will be able to offer their assistance to refugees and residents of Ukraine. You can donate money, bring necessary things, provide housing, help with employment, sign up to volunteer at the registration center. Additional information will be gradually published on the page of the concert “Let us express our solidarity with the Ukrainians who are resisting the barbaric invasion, with the Belarusians who are relentlessly demonstrating against the dictatorial regime of Alexander Lukashenko, and with the Russians who are protesting against Putin’s aggression. Let us welcome our new neighbours. Some will be with us temporarily, others will find a new home here. Let us greet them and get to know each other. Together, let us also provide psychological support to those who remain in Ukraine and defend their homes,”...
Prague City reported that the Municipal Library (MKP) has opened a completely self-service library kiosk in Černý Most Centre. According to the capital, the new kiosk is the first of its kind in the country and is the result of MKP’s work to introduce RFID technology to its services. The library’s new self-service branch will have longer working hours, operating from 9 am to 9 pm every day. During these times, readers can sit in the 29-square-metre space, leaf through texts, and borrow or return books. At the moment, the kiosk has a collection featuring over 1,000 titles, which are predominantly adult fiction, children’s books, and popular science literature. Although one can enter the space, select a title, and borrow a book all on their own, they can still access support when they need it. More specifically, the City of Prague explains that the human element will still be necessary as librarians will need to look after the collection and the readers. Nevertheless, they will not always be present on site as they will only work at the branch on Mondays from 1 pm to 5 pm. If one requires assistance outside of these hours, they can receive support online every weekday from 9 am to 7 pm or on...
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