Czech news in brief for April 16: Wednesday's top headlines

Austria extended border checks with Czechia for six more months starting Tuesday to curb illegal migration and prevent foot-and-mouth disease, its Interior Ministry announced. The move aims to deter people smuggling and protect public health. Austrian police continue cooperation with Czech and Slovak authorities. Border controls have been in place with Hungary and Slovenia since 2015. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the measures have already reduced illegal crossings and efforts will continue to lower them further.

Eight in 10 Czechs view election campaigns in the country as unethical, and 41 percent fear worsening political ethics, a new survey revealed Wednesday. Presented by the Association of Public Relations (APRA) at a political ethics conference, the poll found that misinformation discourages voter participation. Ninety percent of respondents support ethical campaigning. Support for political ethics rises with age, education, and status. APRA chairman Radek Maršík urged dialogue to combat unethical practices that erode trust in democracy.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he will attend Russia’s May 9 WWII victory celebrations in Moscow, defying EU warnings. He criticized EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for urging leaders to avoid the event amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. Fico called Kallas’ comments disrespectful and emphasized Slovakia’s sovereignty. He has consistently opposed military aid to Ukraine and supports restoring ties with Russia post-war.

Dozens protested Monday outside the Russian House in Prague against the spread of Russian culture, wrapping the entrance in police tape and pouring red liquid symbolizing Ukrainian war victims' blood. Organized by Voice of Ukraine, the protest called for confiscating Russian property to support Ukraine. Veteran Oleh Symoroz criticized Russia as spreading terrorism, not culture. Demonstrators shouted slogans like “Russia is a terrorist state” during the hour-long rally.

The Fairmont Golden Prague hotel, formerly InterContinental, reopened Monday after a five-year, CZK 4 billion renovation. Located on Pařížská Street, the luxury hotel is Fairmont’s first in Central Europe. Only 40 rooms are currently open, with more spaces to launch by late April. The historic brutalist building, revamped by TaK Architects, will eventually offer 320 rooms, restaurants, a spa, and conference spaces for up to 600 guests.

Installation of a new organ has begun at St. Vitus Cathedral, marking the symbolic completion of the church after more than 700 years. Built by Spain’s Gerhard Grenzing workshop, the instrument features over 6,000 pipes and will be tuned by mid-2025. More than 106 million crowns have been raised for the project, with 2.5 million still needed. The ceremonial inauguration is set for June 15, 2026.

A Mercedes car linked to Nazi official Reinhard Heydrich's 1942 assassination will be exhibited for one day on May 24 at the Monument to National Oppression and Resistance. The vehicle, recently restored by a private owner, will be shown during the Jan Kubiš Day event. While experts confirm its authenticity through damage analysis, some historians question the verification due to renovations obscuring key features.