Czech politicians condemn the assassination of Japan’s former PM Shinzo Abe

Czech President Miloš Zeman, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and politicians across the political divide have condemned the assassination of Japanese former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe," Fiala said on Twitter.

Zeman, through this spokesman Jiří Ovčáček, and Fiala both expressed their sincere condolences to the people of Japan.

Abe, 67, was shot during his election campaign in the city of Nara in western Japan at 11:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. He collapsed and then was transported to a hospital, but doctors were unable to revive him.

"Not even the biggest political disagreements can be a reason for violence. I clearly condemn the murder of ex-PM Shinzo Abe," Czech Deputy Prime Minister Vít Rakušan (Mayors and Independents, STAN) said.

"Politics is and must remain a battle of ideas, not weapons. Shinzo Abe will be recorded in the history of Japan and world politics forever," Chamber of Deputies chairwoman Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09) said.

Former Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš, leader of the senior opposition ANO movement, said he highly respected Abe.

"As prime minister, I was honored to meet him several times, and I will always remember the talks with him. An excellent person, a wonderful man and great statesman. It is crazy what happened. I deeply regret his tragic death," Babiš said.

Health Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09) said on Twitter that no motivation can ever excuse violence and murder. "Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has become a victim of an assassination in the campaign before elections. He fought with words, but was treacherously attacked with a gun," Válek said.

Senate foreign affairs committee head Pavel Fischer (unaffiliated) also expressed condolences. "The murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deeply affected me. I think of his family and those closest to him. And also of the citizens of Japan, our ally, who have important elections ahead," he said.