Ondřej Kolář, the head of the municipality of Praha 6, where there was a monument to Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev, sent an open letter to the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Lajen. In it, he asked for help in connection with the "inadequate reaction" of Moscow to the dismantling of the monument.
“Dear Madam Chair, I ask and urge you to take decisive measures so that Russia can be clearly told that such behavior is unacceptable,” wrote Kolarge.
In particular, the headman of Praha 6 accused Moscow of "interfering in the internal affairs" of the republic. According to him, the Russian embassy in Prague and Russian government figures “through social networks and misinformation sites” allegedly call on Czech citizens to “physically eliminate” people related to the demolition of the monument.
Kolarge said that Moscow continues the Soviet foreign policy course, which is unacceptable "for our civilization." The head of the municipality considers it unacceptable to yield to "the pressure of the eastern giant on feet of clay." Concessions, according to the headman of Praha 6, can lead to a “collapse of liberal democracy." To date, the European Commission has not commented on the letter of the Collage.
- European Commission Headquarters
- Reuters
- © Johanna Geron
The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied accusations by the head of Praha 6 and representatives of the Czech authorities of meddling in the internal affairs of the republic. Attacks on Moscow in the department explain the "media anti-Russian campaign."
Russian diplomats continue to demand from Prague strict observance of the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic of August 26, 1993, which obliges the Czech side to ensure the protection and care of Soviet military memorials. As stated on May 5, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, the Czech authorities are striking at “their own national history.”
“What is being done is a blow in principle, they probably still don’t understand this, it’s a blow also to their own national history. Because Konev and the Red Army acted together with the Czechs, it was such a united fraternity. And this worried memory and absolutely blasphemous actions, of course, are already inscribed in the history of the Czech Republic itself, ”said Zakharova on the YouTube channel“ Tape live ”.
"Provocative propaganda techniques"
At the end of April, the Czech magazine Respekt reported that the police guard was assigned to Kolarge, the mayor of Prague, Zdenek Grzyb, and the head of the metropolitan area of Rzhepory, Pavel Novotny, who initiated the installation of a monument to the Vlasovites.
According to the sources of this publication, in early April, according to a Russian diplomatic passport, an officer of the Russian special services arrived in a Prague airport with a suitcase containing deadly ricin poison. According to journalists, the substance was allegedly intended for Kolarzh and Grzhib.
The Russian Embassy in the Czech capital has denied such information. The diplomatic mission said that since mid-March 2020, not a single embassy employee has arrived at the capital's airport. The embassy emphasized that “the speculations contained in the publication have absolutely no basis”.
“It is absolutely clear that it (an article in Respekt. - RT ) is a continuation of the information campaign that has intensified here in the last days, aimed at discrediting our country and imposing its hostile image of the Czech public. Such primitive provocative propaganda techniques, contrary to elementary journalistic ethics, can cause nothing but disgust, ”the embassy commented.
Meanwhile, Czech President Milos Zeman believes that in this way Kolarge is trying to attract attention. According to him, Russia too sharply reacted to “the stupidity that our politicians committed was nothing remarkable (except for this story. - RT ). He also added that he did not believe the publications in Respekt, and noted that the security services did not confirm that a “Russian agent” arrived with ricin in the country.
In an interview with RT, associate professor of the Faculty of Philosophy of Moscow State University, political scientist Boris Mezhuyev drew attention to the similarity of the allegations in the letter of Kolarge and the journal Respekt with the situation surrounding the poisoning in Salisbury of ex-GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia. In this incident, the British authorities accused the Russian Federation of not providing the public with investigation materials and any evidence.
- Warden of the municipality of Praha 6 Ondřej Kolář
- © @kolarondrej
“In my opinion, behind such hints and attacks is the desire of some forces in the Czech Republic to draw Western attention to the country. The Czech Republic was seriously affected economically by the pandemic. They expect that the scandal with Russia and accusations of a possible "attempt" on the head of the municipality will allow you to receive financial assistance from senior partners. However, I’m not sure that such a plan will work, ”Mezhuev said.
Also, the expert believes, with the help of high-profile accusations against Moscow, Kolarge hopes to become a more significant political figure. According to Mezhuyev, until recently, few people knew about the head of Praha 6, both in the Czech Republic and in the European Union.
"The Czech Republic is split"
The monument to Ivan Konev, the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, who liberated Prague, was removed from the pedestal on Interbrigade Square on April 3 by decision of the Praha 6. Administration. Kolarge said that he would be transferred to the Museum of the 20th Century.
He commented on the dismantling himself with an insulting Facebook entry that the monument was removed due to the lack of a medical mask during the quarantine period.
The Russian Embassy in Prague called the actions of the municipality authorities cynical reprisals against the Konev monument on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism. Diplomats promised that the dismantling of the monument will not remain without consequences.
On April 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing prosecution of those responsible for the destruction or damage of memorials perpetuating the memory of those who died in defense of the Fatherland. The maximum penalty for such crimes is five years in prison.
On April 8, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu turned to the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, with a request to prosecute “representatives of the authorities of certain foreign countries for their decisions on the demolition of memorial structures,” while mentioning the dismantling of the monument to Konev.
On April 10, law enforcement authorities opened a criminal case against representatives of the municipal authorities of Prague on the grounds of a crime under Part 3 of Art. 354.1 of the Criminal Code (“The desecration of the symbols of military glory of Russia, committed publicly”).
The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs stood up for Kolarzha and other municipal leaders. The department called their criminal prosecution unacceptable. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic insists that moving the monument to another place does not contradict the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation.
Along with the criminal proceedings against representatives of the Praha 6 administration, Moscow expects to obtain from Prague the transfer of the statue of Russia. Earlier, with a corresponding request, Shoigu turned to his Czech counterpart Lubomir Metnaru.
As experts explain, in Czech society and the political elite there is no unity on the importance of the liberation mission of the Red Army. Some citizens and left-wing parties advocate preserving the memory of the exploits of Soviet soldiers. However, the ruling camp, consisting mainly of right-wing and liberal forces, to which Kolarge belongs, promotes a negative look at the contribution of the USSR, focusing on the events of 1968 when the Warsaw Pact countries introduced troops into Czechoslovakia.
“Of course, the Czech Republic is split. For example, President Milos Zeman is known for his moderate stance towards Russia and the socialist past. But the Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic, and its powers are very limited. Opposition to the president, the executive and legislative branches, take a different view of the situation with the Konev monument. And for Russia, this view, of course, is offensive, ”Mezhuev stated.
In a RT commentary, RISI expert Oksana Petrovskaya, doctor of historical sciences, blamed the situation on the monument to the Soviet Marshal for the pro-Western parties of the Czech Republic, which are popular in major cities of the country, including Prague.
“Now part of the Czech elite is raising a wave aimed at blackening Russia. In the context of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory, this is of particular importance, although such a course will certainly continue after May 9. Various inventions and petty claims are used. It’s difficult for me to talk about the goals of such a policy, but the struggle with monuments looks unethical and is unlikely to bring any bonuses to its organizers, ”Petrovskaya summed up.