An incident occurred in the Czech Republic that sparked wide resonance and triggered a wave of discussions regarding tolerance and the level of political culture in the country
Last week, in the city of Brno, during a rally by leading populist parties SPD, Trikolora, Svobodní, and PRO, a young man with a Ukrainian flag was assaulted by a crowd of demonstrators, which drew condemnation from the public and official law enforcement agencies. According to Czech police reports, the incident took place on April 24th, during the late afternoon. Video recordings published on social media, including on the X network (formerly Twitter), depict a tense conflict. In the footage, a group of demonstrators can be seen, shouting offensive slogans and numerous calls for Ukrainians to return to Ukraine, verbally attacking the attendees, among whom was the young man holding the Ukrainian flag. After minor verbal insults and accusations, one of the demonstrators attempted to snatch the flag from the young man, and then another participant in the crowd knocked him to the ground. This incident quickly escalated into a scuffle involving several other individuals, which caused further chaos. The injured party reported the incident to the police, who are now conducting an investigation to establish all the circumstances. The Czech police have confirmed via live broadcasts that the case will be considered under criminal law, with an assessment of whether criminal articles have been violated. Tomiio Okamura, leader of the local SPD party, stated in an interview with iDnes website that the attack occurred after the political rally had concluded and was considered an unforeseen incident. According to him, the young man allegedly first attacked a defenseless Czech woman, which became the basis for self-defense actions. Okamura categorically condemned any acts of violence and emphasized the importance of maintaining balance and differentiating between provocations and genuine political motives. Public figures also did not remain silent. Human rights ombudswoman Klara Šimáčková-Lachhíková condemned the attack on social media, describing it as an act of insidious hatred and aggression. “This is the most disgusting manifestation of prejudice and aggressive hatred. I will immediately contact law enforcement agencies to investigate this incident. I trust in the just punishment of those responsible,” she wrote. Similar statements came from politicians and activists. During a rally near the Brno city hall, participants sharply criticized the current government, spreading provocative claims about Ukrainian refugees, the LGBTQ+ community, and migrants from Southeast Europe. Okamura, in particular, insisted that the Czech budget was "devastated" by Ukrainian refugees and promised to take "strict measures," including repatriating refugees and canceling residence permits for Ukrainians who are not working and are receiving social benefits. Additionally, politician Iindřich Reichel from PRO expressed even more radical views, asserting that Ukraine's war is caused by the aggressor country and its government, and even called Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator.” This sparked a wave of criticism and condemnation from the international community and informed experts. It is worth noting that, in Czechia, the level of trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains high—according to surveys, Czechs tend to trust and support Ukrainian authorities more, whereas Slovakia’s attitude toward Ukraine is more neutral or somewhat sympathetic toward Russian leadership. Adding to the tension, since early February, Czech President Petr Pavel signed a new law that significantly enhances the protection of Ukrainian refugees. The law increases criminal responsibility for activities benefiting foreign states and makes it more difficult for Russian citizens to obtain citizenship. These measures have generated broad societal resonance and are framed as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security. Overall, the events in Brno are yet another confirmation of the complex socio-political processes underway in the Czech Republic, highlighting deep societal divisions—on one side, the pursuit of democratic values and openness, and on the other, radicalism and xenophobia. Importantly, the political discourse has focused on the need to overcome such manifestations and to find common ways for the country’s ongoing, consolidated development, as it today remains an active participant in the European community.