Czech News 06.03.2014 - 28.02.2014

CR: 28.02.2014 Ukraine says it wants an association agreement with the EU and stable relations with Russia

The foreign minister of Ukraine’s newly-formed government, Andriy Deshchytsya, has said his country wants and association agreement with the EU and stabile relations with Russia. Following a meeting with the Visegrad goup foreign ministers in Kiev on Friday, Mr. Deshchytsya said the new Ukrainian government was prepared to open talks with Russia on stabilizing bilateral relations and in particular finding a peaceful solution to the unraveling crisis in Crimea. The representatives of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland assured Kiev they would provide whatever assistance was within their means. Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said that in view of the situation in Crimea the most pressing issue now was to maintain the unity of the country. Meanwhile, the EU on Friday reiterated its offer of a free-trade pact with Ukraine, saying the country would see the economic benefits within weeks of signing the agreement.

Czech government wants to join criminal prosecution in Promopro case

The Czech government wants to join the criminal prosecution in the ongoing case involving the company Promopro which won a controversial public order for the supply of audio-visual equipment during the Czech EU presidency in 2009. The state is claiming 338 million crowns in damages, the amount by which the order was allegedly overpriced. The suspects have been charged with scheming in a public tender and auction, abuse of power and breach of trust. Alexander Vondra, who was responsible for the preparation of the Czech EU presidency and who was defence minister in 2010-2012, has not been charged.

Former prime minister Jiří Rusnok joins central bank board

Former prime minister Jiří Rusnok on Friday joined the seven-member board of the Czech National Bank. The 53-year old economist and former finance minister was hand-picked for the post by President Miloš Zeman. He replaces Eva Zamrazilová whose six-year mandate on the board ended in February. Mr. Rusnok’s appointment, the first of five that the president is due to make during his term in office, is expected to soften the board's currently Eurosceptic outlook. The central bank determines the monetary policy of the country and decides on fundamental monetary policy measures. It is also responsible for supervision over the entire financial market, including banks, insurance companies and the capital market.

The US Department of State has attacked Czech inaction over Roma discrimination

Continuing discrimination and violence against Roma, domestic violence, failure to deal with cases of human trafficking and corruption are highlighted as black marks against the Czech Republic in the US state department’s annual survey of human rights in the world. Societal discrimination and violence against Roma was a problem last year with human rights organisations attacking the government’s failure to deal with it, the report said. Exploitation of illegal and migrant workers and discrimination against labour unions were also highlighted in the report. Attempts to stamp out abuses in the police and other forces were taken but areas of immunity persisted, it added.

Eleven former Tofl gang members found guilty

A court in Brno has found 11 members of the notorious Tofl gang guilty of bribery, extortion and abuse of office. They received sentences of 3 to 9 years and hefty fines. The gang is named after a former head of the regional economic crime squad who together with several former colleagues threatened entrepreneurs. They elicited large sums of money for withdrawing trumped up charges against them and in some cases even threatened to murder or abduct family members if the money was not delivered. The court heard over 100 witnesses in the case which attracted intense media attention.

Police President Petr Lessy to vacate his post on March 1

Police President Petr Lessy is vacating his post as of March 1. He tendered his resignation in February in order to help restore stability in the force following a period when, due to a legal hurdle, it had two police chiefs. Petr Lessy, who was dismissed after being accused of abuse of office and defamation, cleared his name in court and was reinstated last December, but his successor Martin Červíček challenged the move in court. Neither will compete for the post again and a tender will be launched to select a new police chief.

Staggering number of underqualified teachers

An audit into the education system has revealed that 17,000 teachers at primary and secondary schools are underqualified. Education Minister Marcel Chládek said he was shocked by the statistics and was taking measures to correct the situation. Approximately 7,000 underqualified teachers will have to leave their posts, 6,000 are already working on upgrading their qualification and another 4,000 have promised to do so without delay. Exceptions have been made for teachers over 60 who have taught for at least 15 years.

Czech Post to stop selling tobacco products

Czech Post has announced it will stop selling cigarettes at its outlets around the country as of next week. The state-owned company launched the sale tobacco products late last year within a diversification strategy aimed at consolidating its finances. The sale of tobacco products has come under fire from both the public and members of Parliament.

Tomáš Berdych reaches second successive final at ATP Dubai Tennis Championships

Tomáš Berdych defeated Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5 7-5 in the semi-finals of the ATP Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday. The world number six has thus reached his second successive Dubai final. He will now face Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in Saturday's game.

Viktoria Plzeň proceeds to the last 16 of the Europa League after an away win

In football, Viktoria Plzeň has made it to the last 16 of the Europa League after beating Shakhtar Donetsk 2:1 away from home on Thursday night. That brought the aggregate score over the two legs to 3:2 in the Czech team’s favour. Slovan Liberec drew 1:1 away at Dutch team Alkmaar and exit the competition due to the late goal conceded in their home game last week.

01.03.2014  Methanol claims life of 58-year-old

A 58-year-old man died in hospital on Friday, succumbing to methanol poisoning, the Czech News Agency reports. The man, from Moravec na Ždársku, fell gravely ill after drinking tainted liquor roughly a week ago. The police have charged a 37-year-old suspect in connection with the death, finding bottles of questionable alcohol in his home. Two years ago, the Czech Republic saw an outbreak of methanol poisoning after a deadly mix of bootleg alcohol illegally made it onto the market - more than 50 people lost their lives. Police suspect that some 4,000 litres are unaccounted for. If found guilty, the suspect could face up to eight years in jail.

Suspect in 20-year-old muder case remanded in custody

The regional court in Plzeň has ordered a 47-year-old suspect to be remanded in custody in connection with a murder which took place two decades ago. Criminal investigators in Karlovy Vary arrested the man on Friday – ten days before the case would have come under the statute of limitations. The man is suspected of killing a 66-year-old in 1994 and then cementing his remains in the basement of a building in Marianské Lázně.

Bishop Paďour steps down as head of diocese

For health reasons, Bishop Jiří Paďour is stepping down as the head of the diocese in České Budějovice. The 70-year-old bishop tendered his resignation to Pope Francis last year. The Vatican confirmed on Saturday the move had been accepted. Bishop Paďour headed the diocese since 2002; he was a dissident under the former communist regime after refusing to collaborate with the StB, the secret police, in 1979.

Car crashes into family home

One of the passengers in a modified Subaru was killed and two others seriously injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Pardubice on Saturday and crashed. Altogether, four people were in the car. In the crash, the vehicle sped off the road in a turn and hit a fence and the side of a family home. Hydraulic equipment was needed to rescue injured passengers from the car.

Thousands turn out to greet Olympic champion

Thousands of well-wishers and fans turned out in Žďár nad Sázavou on Saturday to greet champion Martina Sáblíková. The Olympian, who won one gold and one silver at the Winter Olympics in Sochi was greeted with flowers and other gifts, including a cake in the shape of the winners’ podium. At the Winter Games, Sáblíková defended her gold from Vancouver in the 5,000 metres – her favourite competition.

The condition of some Ukrainian demonstrators – being treated in Czech hospitals – has improved

The condition of a number of Ukrainian nationals, injured in recent anti-government demonstrations in Kiev, has improved somewhat, according to a spokesman. In all, 27 patients are being treated in Czech hospitals. Some of the demonstrators – who came out against now deposed president Viktor Yanukovich – had suffered broken shins, or facial injuries such as a cracked eye socket.

Back in Ukraine, tensions are continuing to rise over the peninsula of Crimea and involvement by Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday asked his country’s upper house to approve the use of troops in Ukraine, allegedly to protect the lives of Russian citizens there. A day earlier, US President Barack Obama warned Russia not to interfere militarily in Ukraine.

Czech president expresses opposition to Russian intervention in Ukraine

Czech President Miloš Zeman has expressed opposition to Russia intervening in Ukraine; in a statement issued through his spokesman on Saturday, the president suggested military intervention would create a gulf that would take more than a generation to bridge. Mr Zeman was reacting to rising tensions in Crimea, where Russian forces are stationed or being boosted. He made clear he could draw on concrete experience, the invasion of former Czechoslovakia by Soviet-led troops in 1968. On Saturday, President Vladimir Putin requested - and received - approval from Russia's upper house to use troops on the peninsula until the 'normalisation' of the political situation in Ukraine. Mr Putin claimed that such a move was to protect the Russian-speaking population. Ukraine's new leadership has called Russia's behaviour an attempt to provoke an armed conflict.

The Czech Foreign Ministry reacted on Saturday by saying that Ukraine's territorial integrity as well as sovereignty needed to remain untouched and intact. The foreign minister, Lubomír Zaorálek, is to meet with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka to discuss developments on Monday.

02.03.2014 The National Security Council will meet to discuss Ukraine, energy security

In light of the situation in Ukraine, the Czech National Security Council is due to meet Sunday evening. Members of the council, which includes the foreign, defence, finance and interior ministers, will discuss the developments Ukraine also in connection with the EU and NATO, the prime minister said. Czech energy security will also be reviewed with the head of the Administration of State Material Reserves, Pavel Švagr, attending.

Three dozen protest in front of Russian embassy

Around three dozen people demonstrated in front of the Russian embassy in Prague on Saturday, holding up signs and placards calling on Russia to stop military intervention in Ukraine. Six police officers monitored the protest; no incidents were reported. One of the demonstrators, a Russian national, said he had come out to express solidarity with an injured Ukrainian colleague. He said he was against war and against the occupation of Ukraine, which he called a tragedy for both countries.

Another demonstration in front of the embassy followed on Sunday, this time attended by several hundred people.

Police team heads to Egypt

A six-person team, including members of the police presidium and members of the Moravian-Silesian criminal police, has travelled to Egypt with the aim of boosting cooperation. No formal agreement between police in both countries currently exists. Members of the team, expected to stay in Egypt for roughly a week, will not only meet with their counterparts, but will continue their investigation of a Czech national suspected of having poisoned his wife and daughter on vacation in Egypt last year. The suspect has been remanded in custody in the Czech Republic.

PM: no godfathers in Social Democratic Party

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, the head of the Social Democrats, has denied there are any so-called godfathers in his party pulling strings from behind the scenes. He made the statement on a Sunday debate programme, in response to the president's comment earlier this week that all parties attracted such figures. Mr Sobotka recently claimed that so-called godfathers, either former Civic Democrats or TOP 09 members, were amassing around ANO - who are Mr Sobotka's partners in the government. ANO leader, Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, denied the accusation and made a similar claim about the Social Democrats.

Zaorálek meets with Russian ambassador

The Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek met with Russia's ambassador to Prague on Sunday, informing him of the country's position - that military intervention in Ukraine is unacceptable. He appealed to Russia not to use military force to solve matters in Crimea but instead to sit down for negotiations. Mr Zaorálek confirmed he would not be recalling the Czech ambassador to Moscow, suggesting that dialogue was more important. He also indicated he did not think that that the threat of sanctions or embargoes against Moscow was the way forward.

Foreign Ministry warns Czechs not to travel to eastern Ukraine and Crimea

The Czech Foreign Ministry has warned Czech citizens not to travel to eastern Ukraine and Crimea in light of growing tensions in the area; those already there have been advised to depart. The crisis in Ukraine escalated as unidentified Russian forces took full control of Crimea - where Russia's Black Sea fleet is based - ignoring Ukrainian sovereignty on the pretense they were there to protect Russian-speakers. In response, Ukraine called up its reserves and ordered full combat readiness for troops, raising the stakes in the growing stand-off.

World leaders, including US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, have condemned Russian intervention in Crimea as a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and a breach of international law. But Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has thus far ignored calls for troops to withdraw to the base in Sevastopol. In a phone call with the US president, he reportedly stressed that Russia would act not only in Crimea but in the east of Ukraine, if necessary, to protect its interests. Mr Obama had issued a warning in a press conference on Friday that there would be costs if Russia continued on its current course.

18 year-old charged with brutal murder of senior

Police have charged an 18 year-old suspect with a particularly brutal murder in a village near Litoměřice which took place Friday evening. Police said only that the suspect, allegedly dependent on alcohol and drugs, had killed a senior 80 years of age. If found guilty, the man could receive an extraordinary sentence between 20 to 30 years in prison. Although police refused to release details, TV stations on Saturday reported the killer had used a blunt object - a hammer or other item.

03.03.2014 Defence minister suggests Russian completion of Temelín unlikely

Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnický has said he finds it difficult to imagine that Russian firms would complete new units at the Czech Republic’s Temelín nuclear power plant in light of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. On Monday, the minister accused Russia of blatantly ignoring international law; he said the country could no longer be counted among predictable democratic states, calling its actions “unacceptable”. Fellow minister in government Jiří Dienstbier expressed a similar view, saying that while it was only his personal opinion, he could not imagine Russian companies taking part in the tender, stressing that a country that resorted to military aggression represented a security risk. The Russian consortium MIR 1200 was in the running against US-based Westinghouse to complete the power plant. The Czech government has officially condemned Russia’s actions in Crimea and has called on Russia not to resort to military action.

Methanol affair trial begins

The trial of 10 suspects of the Zlín ‘branch’ of a gang behind the so-called ‘methanol affair’ began at the regional court in Zlín on Monday. The state prosecutor had charged a total of 31 people in the case, but some suspects will be tried at different courts across the country. Those appearing in the courtroom on Monday are suspected of having been involved in the direct production or distribution of a deadly mix of bootleg liquor (containing lethal levels of methanol) which made it onto the market in 2012. The outbreak of methanol poisoning in the Czech Republic claimed more than 50 lives; if found guilty, the suspects could receive sentences between 12 and 20 years in jail or exemplary sentences of life behind bars.

Fire damage to historic mountain chalet estimated in the tens of millions

Fire damage to an historic mountain chalet known as “Libušín” - designed by Art Nouveau era architect Dušan Jurkovič and inspired by folk architecture - is likely to total tens of millions of crowns. The chalet, which served as a restaurant in Pustevny in the Beskydy Mountains in the east of the country, erupted in a blaze on Sunday; as a national heritage site the true extent of the damage is practically incalculable, experts say. More than 70 firefighters worked to get the fire under control but strong winds stoked the flames on the roof and through the interiors, which featured frescoes and sgraffiti designed by Czech painter Mikoláš Aleš. The chalet, named after the mythical Princess Libuše, was opened in 1899.

PM says country has enough gas and oil reserves if supplies cut or reduced

The Czech Republic has enough gas and oil reserves in the event gas or oil supplies from Ukraine are stopped or reduced, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka confirmed Sunday after a meeting of the National Security Council. Members - including the finance, interior and foreign ministers - were meeting to discuss the escalating crisis in Ukraine. In terms of energy or defence, Ukraine's crisis has not affected the Czech Republic, members confirmed; the foreign minister also stated there had been no major jump in the number of asylum-seekers. The Czech Republic has condemned steps taken by Russia in Ukraine and appealed to Russia not to use military force. EU foreign ministers are meeting on Monday to discuss the Ukraine crisis and possible steps by the EU and Nato.

Government to provide two billion in funding for hospitals

The Czech government will spend at least two billion crowns from the government budget reserve for the financing of hospitals Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has said, discussing the matter on a commercial TV programme on Sunday. Hospitals will lack sufficient funds due to the cancellation of a hospital fee of 100 crowns per day which patients previously had to pay. The Constitutional Court cancelled the fee last January on the grounds it was "devastating" for some population groups. The prime minister said that in 2014 his government would make use of the budget reserve, saying there were four billion crowns available in such situations.

Poll suggests elections to European Parliament not considered important

A new poll by the STEM agency suggests that many Czechs regard as the least important, in the election calendar, elections to the European Parliament. The survey asked those questioned to rank elections by points. Communal elections topped the list (receiving top marks from 63 percent), followed by the general election, regional elections, the presidential election, and voting to the European Parliament. Only 27 percent of those queried gave EP elections top ranking in terms of importance. All of the political parties in the Chamber of Deputies recently announced the names of their leading candidates; the EP election is scheduled for May.

Police recommend hunter be tried for criminal negligence causing death

The police have recommended that a 39-year-old Czech hunter be charged with grievous bodily harm and criminal negligence causing death, after completing their investigation into a tragedy in the Czech Republic last summer in which one person lost his life. The hunter shot and killed a 29-year-old man who had been sleeping under a tree. He was reportedly alerted to his mistake by the victim’s friend, who shouted and waved his cap to prevent further shots. Nothing could be done to help the gravely injured man. The hunter later told investigators he had thought he was aiming at a deer; the victim’s father maintained that his son had sat up at the fateful moment and gotten in the way of fire. In the event of a trial - and guilty verdict - the hunter could face up to six years in jail.

Customs officers seize record 182 kg shipment of heroin

Czech customs officers at the weekend uncovered a record 182 kg shipment of heroin, worth almost 750 million crowns, being transported by truck. Jiří Barták, spokesman of the Customs Directorate, revealed the news on Monday, saying the shipment was the largest ever seized on Czech soil. Preliminary tests, he said, suggested the purity of the drug was 60 percent, while on the street the percentage would be far lower, around 15. The target destination, he suggested, was not the Czech Republic.

Petrol prices expected to rise mid-March

Fuel prices at filling stations in the Czech Republic will rise in about the middle of March in connection with the conflict in the Crimea largely due to higher prices of crude oil on global markets, the Czech News Agency reportED MOnday after polling analysts. Global crude oil prices reacted to growing tension between Russia and Ukraine on Monday morning and climbed to several month highs, analyst Miroslav Novák of Akcenta told ČTK. Prices of petrol and diesel oil in the Czech Republic could rise by one crown per litre in two weeks.

Meteorologists say winter season on track to be driest ‘on record’

This winter is looking to be the driest on record, the Czech Hydro-meteorological Institute reports, citing precipitation well below monthly averages: 40 percent of the average in December and 62 percent of the norm in January, officials said. Liberec, north of Prague for example, sees an average of 173 mm, but this winter registered only 65. Given this year’s winter was uncharacteristically warm, meteorologists say the dry period continuing into the spring months can be expected.

04.03.2014  Czech government to provide treatment to more injured Ukrainian protestors

The Czech government will provide treatment for another 10 to 15 injured Ukrainian protestors, a spokesman for the country’s Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. The injured protestors will be airlifted to Prague on Wednesday as part of the international Medavac programme; they are to receive treatment in Prague’s General University and Motol hospitals. Last week, 27 wounded anti-government activists arrived in Prague. The overall cost of the programme has been estimated at over 18 million crowns.

Visegrad countries PMs condemn actions threatening Ukrainian sovereignty

The prime ministers of the Visegrad countries expressed deep concern about what they called a violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and condemned all action threatening the country’s sovereignty. The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia issued a joint statement on Tuesday, demanding a decrease in tensions through dialogue. The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, meanwhile, expressed scepticism about plans to impose economic sanctions on Russia; Mr Zeman told reporters that sanctions yielded no reasonable results.

Ukraine crisis could lead to humanitarian disaster, Czech foreign minister tells UN in Geneva.

The Ukraine crisis could lead to a human-rights and humanitarian disaster, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek told a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday. Mr Zaorálek reiterated the Czech Republic supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for a peaceful solution to the crisis in line with international law. The Czech foreign minister also expressed a deep concern over Russia’s interference with the fragile transformation process in Ukraine.

Amazon still interested in setting up distribution centre outside Brno: mayor

The US online retailer Amazon is still interested in setting up a distribution centre outside Brno, in eastern Czech Republic, the city’s mayor Roman Onderka said after meeting with the firm’s representatives in Luxembourg on Tuesday. Brno municipal assembly is set to vote on the project in two weeks’ time; plans to build a large distribution centre on the city’s southern outskirts have met with opposition from local inhabitants as well as Brno City Hall which required the firm to fund the construction of a highway exit to serve the facility. Another Amazon distribution centre should be built in Dobrovíz, outside Prague.

Former PM Nečas’ chief of staff charged over classified information leaks

Prosecutors in Olomouc have charged former chief of staff of ex-prime minister Petr Nečas, Jana Nečasová (neé Nagyová), over leaks of classified information, the news website lidovky.cz reported on Tuesday citing sources from the prosecutors’ office. Ms Nečasová allegedly provided Czech intelligence service reports to controversial businessman Ivo Rittig who has also been charged in the case, the website said. Mr Rittig also faces charges of money laundering related to his firms’ business relations with Prague’s public transportation company. The scandal involving both Ms Nečasová and Mr Rittig broke out last June when the police searched the office of the Czech government, and led to the fall of Petr Nečas’ cabinet.

Corporate, personal bankruptcies up in February

A total of 131 Czech companies filed for bankruptcy in February, which was 46 more than in the previous month, according to a study by the consultancy CRIF Czech Credit Bureau released on Tuesday. Last month also saw 574 bankruptcies of self-employed entrepreneurs, which was the highest number since 2008, and 180 more than in January. Meanwhile, 1941 personal bankruptcies were declared last month, up by 394 from the previous month and also the highest number since 2008, according to CRIF Czech Credit Bureau.

Supreme Court confirms jail sentence for Viktor Kožený

The Czech Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by fugitive Czech-born Irish financier Viktor Kožený and his associate Boris Vostrý, upholding their sentences of ten and nine years, respectively, for fraud, a spokesman for the court said. Mr Kožený, who resides in the Bahamas and is wanted for bribery by the US, was convicted in 2010 of having caused some 16 billion crowns of damages to a privatization fund he created in the 1990s. The men argued they were denied the right for fair trail, a claim rejected by the Supreme Court.

Record amount of heroin seized by Czech authorities “came from Turkey”

A record amount of heroin that was seized by Czech authorities at the weekend came in a truck from Turkey, customs officials told a news conference in Prague on Tuesday. The authorities discovered 182 kilos of the illicit substance in a warehouse in Prague, hidden among kitchenware shipped to a trade company registered in the capital. The drug was destined for the Czech market, the officials said, adding that the driver of the truck had no knowledge of the contraband. The customs authorities said they had not been tipped off about the shipment but traced it on the basis of an analysis of transportation patterns of goods from outside the EU.

New Charles University rector inducted in office

New rector of Prague’s Charles University, Tomáš Zima, was inducted in office on Tuesday. A doctor and biochemist, Professor Zima served as dean of the university’s First Faculty of Medicine between 2005 and 2012. President Miloš Zeman, who attended the ceremony, said Professor Zima’s election to the post was a guarantee of good cooperation between the head of state and the academic community; the ties were strained after President Zeman last year refused to appoint one of his critics as professor.

Vítkovice Machinery Group to open London office

The largest Czech machinery firm, Vítkovice Machinery Group, will open an office in London later this year, the company firm said in a press release on Tuesday. Vítkovice Machinery Group would like to boost its sales of hi-tech machinery components for the energy and nuclear sectors. The company, which would like to expand their exports from last year’s 12 billion to 13 billion crowns in 2014, sees the UK as one of potentially growing markets, the firm’s trade manager, Břetislav Nitka, said.

Football: Rosický extends contract with Arsenal

Czech international midfielder Tomáš Rosický has signed a new contract with English Premier League club Arsenal, the club said in a statement on Tuesday. The terms of the deal have not been revealed; however, Rosický’s agent Pavel Paska said the contract is for two years. The 33-year-old footballer, who has spent eight season with Arsenal, said he was happy his career in the club would continue.

Figure skater Tomáš Verner postpones retirement

Czech figure skater Tomáš Verner has backtracked on his earlier decision to retire after the Sochi Olympics. In a statement released by his agent on Tuesday, the 28-year-old said he was going to compete at the world championships to be held in Japan next month. Verner finished 11th at the Winter Games; he was planning to take part in a series of exhibition events alongside Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko before retiring and completing his university studies. However, the Czech figure skater said that as the series was cancelled, he decided to postpone his retirement until after the world championships.

05.03.2014  Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka makes first Polish visit

Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka made his first trip as premier to Poland on Wednesday. Discussions with Polish counterpart Donald Tusk focused on the situation in Ukraine and improved road and gas connections between the Czech Republic and Poland. Prime ministers agreed that infringements on the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine were unacceptable. Environment, industry and trade, and transport ministers from the neighbouring countries will also hold parallel talks. Poland has been one of the most active EU countries in the current Ukrainian crisis. One of Sobotka’s first visits in Warsaw was to the memorial of Ryszard Siewiec, the Pole who set fire to himself to protest the 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia. A Polish government delegation has been invited to the Czech Republic in the autumn.

President Zeman has called for Czech participation in monitoring Ukraine elections

Czech president Miloš Zeman has suggested that a strong mission of Czech observers be dispatched to check on the Ukraine presidential elections scheduled to take place on May 25. Speaking on a visit to Olomouc, the Czech head of state said that there was a risk that attempts might be made to falsify the elections and that supervision of the vote by the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe could prevent that. The Czech head of state added that the new government in Kiev following the overthrow of president Viktor Janukovych lacked the full legitimacy of an administration formed following elections.

Police drop criminal charges over massive Prague gas explosion

Police have said that criminal proceedings will be dropped over the massive gas explosion that ripped through a central Prague street in April last year. The explosion injured around 40 people, two seriously, and damaged nearby buildings and cars with the repair bill coming in at around 275 million crowns. An investigation found that faulty parts and work on the gas pipe caused the explosion. The head of the works unit at the gas company responsible had already died, police said.

Every third Czech woman victim of abuse, suggests EU survey

Some 32 percent of Czech women since the age of 15 have experienced some form of domestic violence, suugests a Europe-wide survey by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. That is slightly lower than the EU average of 33 percent, according to the report. The highest number of victims, 52 percent, was registered in Denmark, the lowest, 19 percent, in Poland. The report is based on interviews with 42,000 women across the EU; in the Czech Republic, researchers talked to 1,620 respondents.

Woman sentenced to 22 years in jail for murdering three newborns

A court in Brno on Wednesday convicted a 31-year-old woman of murdering three newborn babies, and sentenced her to 22 years in prison. The court said that the woman killed her newborn twins in 2012 and hid their bodies in the basement of her family’s house in Vlasatice, south Moravia. A year later, she murdered another newborn girl. The police discovered the bodies last summer, acting on a tip from the woman’s gynaecologist. The woman said quoted difficult financial situation as her motive.

Counterfeit Czech banknote and coin haul on decline

The number of counterfeit Czech bank notes and coins seized last year dropped dramatically by just over 1500 to total just over 2000, the Czech National Bank announced on Wednesday. Their value of around 1.8 billion crowns was around half that of the haul in 2012. But the number of forged foreign bank notes and coins increased slightly to just over 1,000 with their value almost doubling from 2012 to 4.3 billion crowns, the bank said.

StB frontier trap mastermind dies

The man believed to be behind one of the communist era secret police’s most infamous actions, Evžen Abrahamovič, has died at the age of 92, Czech public television announced. Abrahamovič is believed to have masterminded the creation of false frontier posts to trick those escaping into US occupied Germany after 1948 into thinking they had already reached safety. He was charged by police last year. The frontier posts set up near the real border were staffed with StB officers who pretended to be from the US army and encouraged those fleeing communist Czechoslovakia to confess who helped them and their network of contacts. The so-called operation kamen (stone) was wound up from 1951 when frontier security was reinforced and escape became almost impossible.

Czech ministry of industry rejects proposed changes to energy law

The Czech Ministry of Industry of Trade has said it will not support any proposed changes in the country’s energy law submitted by lawmakers in the lower house of parliament. Fourteen proposals have been made, including a controversial proposal from the head of the energy sub-committee, Social Democrat Milan Urban, which would dramatically change the functioning of the independent energy regulator. The head of the regulatory office, Alena Vitásková, held a press conference Tuesday saying the proposal was motivated by Urban’s links to energy interests and was aimed at removing her from office. The ministry said that it wants to make its own far reaching changes at a later date.

Slavia Prague appoint Dutch manager for senior football squad

In football, Czech club Slavia Prague has appointed a 47-year-old Dutchman, Alex Pastoor as manager of the senior squad. Pastoor ended his football career in 2001 and is best known for taking small Dutch team SBV Excelsior into the top Dutch league. Slavia’s recently appointed footballing advisor, former Russian football star Igor Korneev, was instrumental in bringing Pastoor to Prague. The new manger will face his first test in charge against Teplice on Monday. Slavia are currently languishing in 10th place in the 16 club league but have one of the worst attacking and defensive records.

Pavel Vrba faces first test as national manager

Czech football manager Pavel Vrba faces his first match in charge of the national team in a friendly against Norway on Wednesday night. According to pre-match reports, Vrba has chosen to play West Bromich Albion striker Matěj Vydra up front and FC Nuremberg’s Adam Hloušek in midfield. Hloušek has not played for the national team for three years. Vrba is expected to adopt the same formation he successfully used at manager of Viktoria Plzeň.

06.03.2014 Prime Minister says human rights concerns will remain a priority

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka defended the Czech government’s concerns for human rights issues on Thursday saying that defense of human rights and support for business and trade can go hand-in-hand. The prime minister was responding to criticism from President Miloš Zeman who said during a visit to the regions that excessive emphasis on human rights issues by some Czech top officials was harming Czech exporters and investors in countries like Uzbekistan or Iran. The prime minister said he did not believe one concern excluded the other and stressed that before the fall of communism in 1989 Czechoslovakia itself had relied on the West to bring up human rights issues on its behalf.

President Zeman: human rights issues should not hurt business

On a visit to the Papcel Litovel factory in the Olomouc region, President Miloš Zeman expressed the view that human right issues should not be allowed to stand in the way of business and trade. He said the country’s business interests were sometimes hurt by what he called an excessive emphasis on human rights on the part of Czech leaders, citing the cancelled visit by the president of Uzbekistan as an example. Mr. Zeman said this was a self-defeating policy, noting that since the Ubzbek head of state was not going to visit the country it would not be possible to bring up the issue of human rights face to face. At the same time, the Czech Republic was losing investment opportunities and risking business already underway in the country, the president noted. The Papcel Litovel factory has an eight million dollar investment in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek president recently cancelled his visit to the Czech Republic after the prime minister and the mayor of Prague said they were not willing to meet with him.

TOP 09 leader angered by president’s words

The president’s words elicited an angry response from the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies Karel Schwarzenberg who said Mr. Zeman should spend a month in an Iranian jail so that he would know what he was talking about. The TOP 09 leader also rejected the idea that defense of human rights harmed exports, saying that if Czech companies produced quality goods they would always find buyers.

More injured Ukrainians flown to Prague for treatment

A Czech army plane transported a dozen more Ukrainian nationals injured in the recent clashes on Maidan Square to Prague for treatment on Thursday. The majority suffered gunshot wounds and will require surgery. The Czech government on Wednesday night agreed to set aside a further 8.5 million crowns to fund the humanitarian mission. A first airlift last week brought back 27 injured to Prague hospitals. The Czech government has said it will continue providing humanitarian assistance for as long as is needed.

Senate chairman postpones indefinitely planned visit to Russia

The chair of the Czech Senate Milan Štěch has announced that he will not be making an official visit to Russia in March as planned. Mr. Štěch said the visit had been postponed indefinitely at his request in connection with Russia’s military actions in Crimea. The visit by one of the Czech Republic’s leading representatives was to have focused on the development of bilateral relations.

Czech victory in Diag Human arbitration case definitive

The Czech Republic has definitively won an international arbitration case against the Diag Human company, the Czech Health Ministry reported on Thursday. The company had been suing the Czech Republic since the early 1990s over a frustrated deal in blood plasma, demanding more than ten billion crowns in compensation for lost profit. Although a French court ruled in the Czech Republic’s favour in 2012, the company filed a cassation complaint, which has now definitively been rejected by the Supreme Court in France.

České Budějovice mayor charged with abuse of office

České Budějovice mayor Juraj Thoma has been charged with abuse of office. Mr. Thoma is believed to have signed a highly disadvantageous contract for the city hall on IT services in 2012 without calling a public tender. Independent experts claim that the contract was overpriced by an estimated 9 million crowns.

Economy growing faster than predicted

The Czech economy grew faster in the last quarter of 2013 than originally predicted with a GDP growth of 1.9 percent against the previous quarter. This constituted a 1.3 percent expansion year on year. In the whole of last year, the GDP contracted by 0.9 percent which was also a better figure than the original estimate. The country came out a drawn-out recession only last year and the boost in growth at the end of 2013 came after the central bank intervened massively to weaken the crown as a means of fighting deflation risks. The forex interventions encouraged consumer spending with shoppers trying to get ahead of expected price rises this year due to costlier imports.

Alcohol banned when house in session

The speaker of the lower house, Jan Hamáček, has banned the sale of alcohol on the premises of the lower chamber when the house is in session. Mr. Hamáček made the move in response to appeals by members of the ANO party which criticized the fact that MPs drink during sessions of the lower chamber. Critics within the party noted that since drinking at work is not allowed elsewhere there is no reason for MPs to have special privileges in this respect.

Fuel prices down in Prague due to competition

Fuel prices in Prague have dropped by up to 1.24 crowns due to intense competition between sales outlets. The price of the best-selling Natural 95 is now selling on average for 35.54 per liter, while Diesel fuel sells for 36.93 on average. The cheapest fuel is available in Prague 3 and Prague 9. The drop is expected to be short lived since the price of petrol and diesel is expected to rise by approximately 1 crown per liter by mid-March in connection with the conflict in Crimea.

Czech football team draws in Pavel Vrba’s first game in charge

Czech manager Pavel Vrba saw his team draw 2:2 in a friendly with Norway at Prague’s Eden stadium on Wednesday night. The game was Vrba’s first in charge of the national team. The Czech team started brightly with goals by Tomáš Rosický and Matěj Vydra sending them in at the break with a 2:1 lead. Half time changes, including Rosický’s substitution, appeared to break up Czech coherence and the visitors equalized in the closing minutes. Vrba complained of lost possession in the second half.