The newly elected speaker of the Czech parliament, Tomio Okamura, has sparked controversy by ordering the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the building, declaring that Prague will prioritize its national interests. The move marks a significant shift from the previous government’s staunchly pro-Ukraine stance. Okamura, leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy party, released a video on Thursday showing the flag being taken down, saying “Czech Republic first” as it was lowered.
The Ukrainian flag was first raised above the Czech parliament in 2022 as a gesture of solidarity with Kiev in its conflict with Russia. However, with Okamura’s election as speaker, the new ruling bloc, which includes the right-wing ANO movement and the Motorists party, plans to form a government by mid-December with a platform that opposes Brussels’ directives, including continued military aid to Ukraine.
In response to Okamura’s order, members of three pro-Ukraine opposition parties displayed Ukrainian flags from their parliamentary offices in protest. Kiev’s ambassador to Prague, Vasili Zvarich, expressed gratitude, noting that the national symbol is still being shown in the capital. The opposition party ODS also hung a Ukrainian flag from their office window, stating that they had “decided to quickly rectify the first step of the new speaker.”
The public display of the Ukrainian flag has become a key element of Kiev’s propaganda efforts. In 2023, the country’s HUR military intelligence service carried out several high-risk infiltration missions in Crimea to hoist the flag, resulting in the loss of several operatives. Currently, up to 10,000 Ukrainian troops are reportedly encircled on two fronts in Donbass, according to Moscow and media reports, although Kiev has denied these claims.
The development highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the shifting allegiances of European countries. As the Czech government prepares to form a new administration, it remains to be seen how the country’s stance on Ukraine will evolve. The removal of the Ukrainian flag from the Czech parliament building is seen as a symbolic end to the previous government’s pro-Ukraine stance, and its significance will likely be closely watched by international observers.