Czech news in brief for August 20: Tuesday's top headlines

Prague police have caught a 55-year-old man who repeatedly masturbated in front of girls on a tram in the city center following a manhunt. Authorities could sentence him to up to two years in prison. The incident took place on tram number 9 in late June (at night) when the man exposed himself and masturbated in the presence of a 21-year-old woman. One out of every three women fall victim to harassment when traveling on public transportation in the Czech Republic; a new campaign by the City of Prague hopes to change that by drawing attention to key issues and empowering bystanders to intervene.

The Straka Academy in Prague will be illuminated with the message "Go home, Ivan! Go home, Russia!" as part of the My 68 communication campaign, which the Czech state has organized. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and show solidarity with Ukraine in their current conflict with Russia. Martin Ondráček, one of the initiators of the charity project Gift for Putin, expressed gratitude for the government's support in their efforts to end the war in Ukraine. 

Deputy Prime Minister for Digitization Ivan Bartoš has announced that libraries in the Czech Republic will offer eGovernment courses for the public and librarians online at the osveta.gov.cz website for the next two years. These courses will cover topics such as obtaining a Citizen Identity, setting up and using a data box and the Citizen Portal service, and will also be available through a mobile application. Around 70 percent of the Czech population has basic digital skills, data shows.

Czechia’s Senate Security Committee has this afternoon agreed that the Czech government should direct intelligence services to investigate the potential use of Orthodox churches in the Czech Republic for Russian-influence operations. Additionally, Culture Minister Martin Baxa should review the registration and activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in the Czech lands to ensure compliance with the law and propose cancellation if necessary. The Culture Ministry has not found grounds for revocation of the churches’ activities yet.

Around 100 Czechs are currently living in African countries affected by the mpox virus, according to data from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs Drozd application. The virus, formerly known as monkeypox, poses a higher risk in 12 Central African nations. Approximately 4,700 Czechs reside on the continent, mainly in Egypt and Tunisia. The WHO has declared a high alert due to worsening conditions, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 18,000 cases have been reported this year. The Czech Ministry of Health advises travelers to take preventive measures, including vaccination.

President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala will participate in a memorial service on Wednesday at the Czech Radio building, marking the 56th anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. The event will also feature Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and other officials.

In the evening, Pavel will attend a screening of Jiří Mádl’s film Waves, based on the true story of Czechoslovak Radio correspondents during the 1968 invasion. The third edition of the NeverMore 68 festival will take place at the Výstaviště Exhibition Grounds in Prague on the same day.

Czech President Petr Pavel stated that Ukraine could join NATO without regaining full territorial control, drawing a parallel to West Germany’s post-war entry into NATO despite Soviet occupation. Pavel suggested that an administrative border could be treated as temporary, allowing Ukraine’s admission while avoiding direct NATO-Russia conflict. He anticipates Ukraine might negotiate peace with Russia, potentially leading to long-term Russian occupation of some Ukrainian territories.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has obtained new documents from France, the U.S., and the U.K. related to the mysterious 1948 death of former Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk. These archives, now being organized at the Černín Palace, could be made public in September. Masaryk's death remains unresolved, with conflicting theories of suicide, murder, or accident. One document suggests Masaryk had a heated argument with three men before his death.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels to discuss the new European Commission lineup. Fiala described the talks as constructive but did not disclose details. The Czech government will nominate Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela as the Czech European Commissioner, aiming for an economic portfolio. Fiala seeks a significant role for the Czech Republic in the next mandate, reflecting its central European position.