Demonstrators take part in an anti-government protest demanding the resignation of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, in Prague, Czech Republic, September 16, 2023. REUTERS
PRAGUE 鈥� Thousands of supporters of a pro-Russian Czech opposition party gathered in Prague on Saturday to protest against the country鈥檚 centre-right government, criticizing its economic management and military support for Ukraine.
The protest was called by the PRO movement, which is not represented in parliament and has taken a nationalist, pro-Moscow and anti-Western line.
黑料社 agency CTK estimated the turnout at about 10,000 people, smaller than a similar event a year ago which took place at the height of Europe鈥檚 energy price surge.
鈥淲e made another step today to move out of the way the rock that is the government of Mr (Prime Minister Petr) Fiala,鈥� PRO leader Jindrich Raichl told the crowd in Prague鈥檚 Wenceslas Square.
鈥淭hey are agents of foreign powers, people who fulfill orders, ordinary puppets. And I do not want a puppet government any more,鈥� Raichl said, saying the Czech Republic should veto any attempt by Ukraine to join NATO.
Under the current government, the Czech Republic has been a close ally of Ukraine, sending tanks, rocket launchers, helicopters, artillery shells and other material to help Ukrainian forces fighting Russia鈥檚 invasion.
Raichl hailed the nationalist policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a role model and called for an alliance of Central European countries to counter Brussels.
He also voiced support for Slovakia鈥檚 former Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has adopted a staunchly anti-Western stance ahead of an election on Sept. 30.
Protester Marcela Hajkova, a mother-of-three, condemned the government鈥檚 military aid to Ukraine, among other policies.
鈥淲e are not a sovereign country, we listen to Brussels,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hy send weapons to Ukraine, why don鈥檛 they strive for peace?鈥�
Protesters also criticized the government鈥檚 stewardship of the economy, which has suffered double-digit inflation and underperformed its European peers, with output not yet returning to pre-COVID levels.
Police said in a social media post they had detained one man at the rally wearing a patch of the Russian private military company Wagner Group on suspicion of supporting genocide, without giving further details.