Political scandal unfolding in the Czech Republic

Communist Zdenek Ondracek, who was elected chair of parliament's general inspection of security forces commission, has sent in his resignation. He made the decision not because of the “hecklers in the streets”, but because of concerns about safety of his family, he is quoted as saying by radio.cz. He called right-wing politicians “a democratic dump well.”

As EADaily reported earlier, the voting on appointment of Zdenek Ondracek to the post of the commission chair succeeded only in its fifth attempt by a margin of just one vote and caused wide public response as the MP during the 1989 Velvet Revolution participated in dispersing a students’ demonstration, On March 5, protest actions were held at one time in the center of Prague and a dozen of major Czech cities to condemn Ondracek’s appointment and returning of old times. The protesters came to the Prague central square with symbolic paper truncheons, were jingling with keys, reminding of the 1989 events. Organizers of the demonstration placed several stands in the Wenceslas Square where anyone could sign a petition that was urging new election of the GIBS chair.

On March 6, the Ukrainian-European Perspective, Ukrainian Tradition in the Czech Republic, Ukrainian Initiative in the Czech Republic and some other organizations made public an address saying they are concerned with Ondracek’s appointment, as he “disseminates distorted and false information on the situation in Ukraine” and in January 2016 “together with other MPs – members of the Communist Party – visited the occupied territories in Donetsk Region thus violating the Ukrainian legislation and principles of the international law.”