Section: Radio Prague (Czech Republic)
Czech diplomats report human rights violations in annexed Crimea
A report prepared for the Czech foreign ministry by embassy staff in Kiev details widespread alleged human rights violations occurring in Crimea. According to Czech diplomats, the repression unleashed since Russia’s takeover of the peninsula is leading to growing cases of torture, beatings, detentions and even disappearances. …read...
US military convoy to travel across Czech territory
The Czech government on Monday confirmed it had agreed to allow US military personnel and vehicles returning from a NATO operation in the Baltic states to travel across the Czech Republic to a military base in Germany. The operation, titled Atlantic Resolve, was a show of force and solidarity for NATO countries bordering Russia, nervous over that...
First contingent of Czech Ukrainians arrive in “homeland”
The first group of ethnic Czechs from eastern Ukraine, repatriated under a special government programme, has finally arrived in the Czech Republic, after nearly a year of negotiations. Another group is scheduled to arrive in the Czech capital by a special government plane in mid-March. …read more Source: Radio...
Polish daily targets alleged Czech sanctions busting arms exports
The Polish daily Rzeczpospolita put the Czech Republic in the spotlight on Monday, when it claimed that some Czech firms have been exporting weapons to Russia despite the embargo imposed by the EU and the US in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. In reaction to the criticism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement...
New Czech-based civil society centre to help cultivate post-Soviet democracy
A new centre designed to promote civic engagement in post-Soviet countries has formally begun operating in Prague. Backed, among others, by Czech charity People in Need, the Prague Civil Society Centre is seeking to cultivate values such as openness and human rights in countries including Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine. The move...
Czech president and government fine-tune foreign policy priorities
Czech President Miloš Zeman met with government and parliament representatives on Tuesday to streamline their stand on foreign policy. The crisis in Ukraine and international terrorism were among the main issues on the agenda of the meeting at Prague Castle. RF has more: …read more Source: Radio...
Czech Republic sends more aid to eastern Ukraine as humanitarian crisis deepens
The eyes of the world are on eastern Ukraine, where isolated skirmishes have underscored the fragility of the Minsk peace deal which went into effect at midnight on Saturday. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid continues to flow to the war-stricken area where tens of thousands of displaced families are in dire need. On Monday morning the Czech...
Czech authorities prepare for return of Ukrainian expatriates
After nearly a year of negotiations, the first ethnic Czechs from Ukraine are set to move to the Czech Republic. Some 200 Czech expatriates have so far expressed interest in being repatriated to the old country due to the present situation in Ukraine. A special Czech consulate, which was temporarily opened in Odessa, on Monday started to issue...
Czech government reaffirms support for EU sanctions
The Czech cabinet on Monday reaffirmed its full support for EU sanctions against Russia. A Foreign Ministry report concluded that the sanctions were having a tangible effect on the Russian economy and should remain in place until Russia changed its stance on Ukraine. …read more Source: Radio...
President Zeman proposes “Finlandization” of Ukraine
Czech President Miloš Zeman continues to stir controversy in the international arena. After criticising the EU’s sanctions against Moscow and questioning Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, Mr Zeman has now suggested that Ukraine should drop its NATO aspirations. Instead, he argues, Ukraine should emulate Finland’s...
