The non-parliamentary PRO party gathered in Prague a multi-thousand anti-government rally “Czech Republic Against Poverty”. Police arrested 18 people who tried to enter the building of the National Museum to remove the state flag of Ukraine, two law enforcement officers were injured. In addition, a man was detained who came to the rally with stripes Z and “Wagner Group”. The authorities announced a “pro-Russian provocation”.
The police did not specify the number of the action. According to local publication Today (owned by the large Czech media company MAFRA), thousands of people came to the event. Some protesters opposed arms supplies to Ukraine. The event was attended by PRO leader lawyer Jindřich Reichl, lawyers Ondřej Dostal and Tomas Nielsen, choreographer Petr Zuska, director Igor Haun, ex-senator Alena Dernerova and others.
As the state Czech TV, the action lasted three hours, following which the police demanded to disperse. However, hundreds of people moved towards the National Museum and called for the removal of the Ukrainian flag. The entrance to the museum was blocked by law enforcement officers, there were several brawls. According to police, several dozen people tried to get into the museum. 18 of them were detained.
Separately, a man wearing the Z and Wagner Group badges was detained for the “crimes of denying, approving or justifying genocide.” For this, the Czech Republic provides for criminal liability.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic Vit Rakusan condemned the actions of the demonstrators. “I expect the organizers to distance themselves from these manifestations of violence. This, in fact, gives the impression that the entire so-called demonstration once morest poverty was just a screen for a pro-Russian provocation, and we certainly cannot tolerate such manifestations,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
