Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, to protest against the government of Petr Fiala and demand both early elections and direct negotiations with Russia for gas supplies.
During the demonstrations, the demonstrators have chanted messages against NATO and the Czech Republic’s membership in the EU in a protest also supported by far-right formations and parties such as the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, led by Josef Skala.
Czech flags were waved at the rally, held in the central Wenceslas Square. Many demonstrators carried banners against inflation, low wages and high energy prices.
«We want the Czech Republic to return to Czech hands,» stressed the organizer of Czech Republic First, a group that opposes the Atlantic Alliance and claims the country as a neutral state in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as reported by the iDNES news portal.
The demonstrations, which according to the Police have been attended by «tens of thousands of people», also coincide with the National Day of the Czech Republic, which is celebrated this Friday to commemorate the independence of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
The Czech Republic has emerged as one of Ukraine’s main partners, along with Poland and the Baltic States, since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of his so-called «special operation» eight months ago.
According to data from the Ministry of Defense, Prague has delivered to Ukraine so far this year military equipment worth 1.9 billion euros, as well as another item valued at almost 168 million for other types of support. Since the beginning of the war, some 450,000 Ukrainian citizens have found refuge across the borders of the Czech Republic.
