Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist, was released in a landmark prisoner exchange in August, following nine months in Russian detention. The mother of two was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military. On August 1, she was finally reunited with he…

As the country approaches the 35th anniversary of Velvet Revolution of 1989, hundreds of dissidents have seen their income rise by an average of 4,400 Czech Crowns.

With President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, many are expecting substantial changes in US foreign policy. The bilateral relationship between the US and Czechia could also see adjustments. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský discussed some of these possible changes with Czech Radio.

Jozef Síkela spoke to the European Parliament on Wednesday to defend his designation as European Commissioner for International Partnerships. Síkela was questioned by members of the Development Committee, outlining a vision for the EU's Global Gateway strategy that balances economic interests with core European values.…

The victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election has surprised some analysts in both American and international political circles. But how will Czechs be impacted in the years to come from another Trump term? I spoke to the political scientist and author Jiří Pehe to find out what he thinks about the potential i…

Marta Kubišová’s Prayer for Marta, the unofficial anthem of the Velvet Revolution, and the Hussite chant Ktož jsú boží bojovníci, or All You Mighty Warriors of God, are among the six Czech songs selected for the first-ever EU Songbook, published on Tuesday.

Around 1.5 million Americans claim Czech identity. Czech Radio spoke to some of them and here is a snapshot of their opinions before the historic presidential election.

With the US presidential election approaching on Tuesday, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has captured global attention, including in Czechia. For some, American politics may seem distant. Other Czechs are closely watching the election because of its expected implications for transatlantic relations, …

The Božena 5 de-mining system has been brought to the Kharkiv region by members of the Czech association, Team4Ukraine. The money for it was raised by Czech and Slovak organizations, led by the “Gift for Putin” initiative, in a public collection.

Yesterday, Czechs celebrated the 106th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia in a nationwide state holiday. But despite the historically close links between Czechs and Slovaks, since Robert Fico's return as Slovakia's prime minister in 2023, there has been a distinct cooling in relations between the former sister states. I spoke with Kristí…

On October 28th, Czechia celebrates 106 years since the declaration of Czechoslovakia as an independent state. Historian and political scientist Jan Adamec walked us through the history of the new country's heads of state, from its first to its last.

NATO has increased recruitment in response to global threats, including Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. In order to attract more candidates from Czechia, which ranks 22nd in representation of employees among NATO members, a NATO career workshop was held at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I went there to interview Assistant Secretary …

Main Czech opposition leader Andrej Babiš says he has been cleared and has never worked for communist secret police. Not true! Says PM Petr Fiala.

The Czech government's austerity policies under Prime Minister Petr Fiala are shaped by both economic necessity and political ideology. Rising inflation, stagnating wages, and a housing crisis have fueled public dissatisfaction, while the deficit continues to grow without significant investments in long-term economic growth. I spoke with Klára Vota…

At the opening of an exhibition marking 20 years since the abolition of compulsory military service in the Czech lands, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka admitted that the military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. He said radical action is needed to be taken since the army was becoming uncompetitive on the labour market.…

Political analyst Jiří Pehe says 2024 is the year when the traditional Czech Social Democratic Party came to an end.

The Czech Senate has passed new limits on the sale of weaker psychomodulatory substances, including kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). If signed into law by the president, the substances will only be available to buy by adults and in specific stores from December.

As the inhabitants of Jeseník, one of the towns hardest hit by the September floods, scramble to get their homes in order ahead of the winter, many are mulling their future and considering moving to safer locations. In an effort to prevent depopulation and open the way to more effective flood mitigation measures, the agriculture minister has said t…

A three-day strike will affect most Czech courts starting Monday, with up to two-thirds of regional court employees expected to participate. However, the Constitutional Court will not take part, and judges, who are legally prohibited from striking, are not directly affected.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Czechia for discrimination of Roma children placed in special and substandard schools.

Inflation, man-made climate change, wars, and other global events have an understandable impact on people's mental health. What is the situation like in Czechia and what are Czechs most concerned about? A new study from PAQ Research has some of the answers.

The Duke Wenceslas Future Leaders Programme, which welcomes the diplomats, activists and political analysts of the future to Czechia, has been successfully completed for a second year. Organised by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scheme this year welcomed ten participants from eight countries, and gave them an in-depth look at Czech life…

Czechia has vetoed a European Union statement that urged an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and Hezbollah and condemned the civilian casualties in Lebanon. Critics of the veto argue that it prevents the EU from issuing a unified stance on the latest developments in the Middle East. Divisions among EU member states have surfaced since Hamas’ Oc…

Last week’s regional elections saw Andrej Babiš and his ANO party triumph in 10 of the 13 regions. On Saturday, ANO also led in the Senate elections, securing eight of the 27 seats contested. Voter turnout was historically low, however, with only 17.5% in the second round. I spoke with political analyst and author Jiří Pehe to discuss the results o…

At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Czech President Petr Pavel called for reform of the Security Council, which he said must be more effective and inclusive to better reflect the voices of underrepresented regions. At the same time, he applauded African efforts for peace and security even beyond their borders and called for…

The opposition ANO party won a landmark victory in the weekend regional and Senate elections, coming out top in 10 of the 13 regions where voting took place. I discussed the outcome of the vote and its possible consequences with political commentator Pavel Havlíček and began by asking what contributed to ANO’s huge success in the elections.…

The 2024 Senate and regional elections could not have come at a worse time for thousands of people in the badly flooded eastern parts of the country. Around 30 municipalities are voting in makeshift polling stations with the help of power generators and volunteers. Many mayors have resigned themselves to a dismally low turnout.…

The elections to the Senate and regional councils, due to take place this weekend, remain on track despite the fact that many parts of the country are still recovering from the damage caused by the recent floods. The government is confident that voting can be organized even in the hardest-hit regions.…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled her team of commissioner candidates and their portfolios for the 2024-2029 cycle. The Czech nominee, Industry Minister Jozef Síkela, has been selected Commissioner-designate for International Partnerships.

The Czech UN Youth Delegates Programme connects the youth in Czechia with the United Nations. It provides a platform for the Czech youth to be represented within the organization, while also raising awareness about the UN through the activities of the youth delegates across the country they represent. I spoke with Veronika Novotná, who is one of th…

As the flood waters slowly subside, Prime Minister Petr Fiala has outlined the government’s strategy in dealing with the damage wrought by strong winds and high water in many parts of the country. He promised state finances, material aid and support from the armed forces.

The NATO Military Committee retreat in Prague, scheduled for this weekend, will focus on discussing Europe's security, the implementation of prior NATO Summit decisions, and the feasibility of the Alliance’s defense plans. This marks the first time Czechia hosts the meeting.

As the election campaign heats up in Czechia, tensions are high and some parties have resorted to controversial tactics. A racist billboard in Prague has sparked outrage and lawsuits.

Hundreds of Czech schools faced bomb threats this week, causing evacuations and fear. Authorities are prioritizing safety while minimizing disruption.

The Constitutional Court has issued a landmark ruling allowing midwifes to assist home births. The ruling sets an important precedent in what has been a long-standing battle for home births in the Czech Republic.

The GLOBSEC 2024 Forum, held in Prague over the weekend under the patronage of Czech President Petr Pavel, centered around the theme “Taming the Storm,” with an emphasis on central and eastern Europe’s crucial role in maintaining global stability. It attracted more than 2,300 participants from more than 80 countries including heads of state and bus…

With ten prime ministers and presidents attending, and speeches by political and business heavyweights, Globsec is undoubtedly a high-profile event.

The regular annual meeting of Czech ambassadors began in Prague’s Czernin Palace, the seat of the Czech Foreign Ministry, on Monday. The ambassadors will spend a week discussing foreign policy, economic diplomacy, security, and other issues.

Trade unionists are currently negotiating an increase in the salaries of law enforcement, other security forces, and firefighters with the Interior Ministry. The workers' representatives are calling for a 10% wage increase starting in October, otherwise, they will consider protesting.

An unexploded 500-pound bomb from the Second World War, which was found on Wednesday on the grounds of a chemical plant in Záluží near Litvínov has led to the evacuation of 600 residents. Nothing like this has ever been found in the modern history of Czechia. The bomb is equipped with a chemical mechanism that can postpone its detonation for up to …

The Czech Senate has approved a bill allowing Czechs living abroad to vote by mail. The legislation should come into force in time for the 2025 general elections.

Top officials gathered outside Czech Radio at middday on Wednesday to recall the battle that took place there in the first hours of the Soviet-led invasion on August 21, 1968 and to pay homage to those who died defending the Czechoslovak Radio building.

An upcoming amendment to the decree on medical fitness for active military service, effective September, aims to streamline the process for military enlistment. It will reduce paperwork, simplify entry requirements, and enable the government to mobilize more people quickly in times of crisis or war. But whether or not people are called up will depe…

The Russian prosecutor's office is demanding a ban on the distribution of the computer game Last Train Home, developed by Ashborne Games in Brno. According to the Russian authorities, the game about Czechoslovak legionnaires incites hatred against the Russian government and the soldiers of the Red Army. I interviewed Managing Director of Ashborne G…

In light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Czech military has moved to increase the number of recruits it can rely on in case of an escalation. One program the army has rolled out this year is a one-month training for high school students. Over 100 students chose to participate, trading holiday comfort for early mornings, runn…

Leading Czech cultural figures have come out in support of their Slovak colleagues, many of whom have recently been sacked for opposing the policies of the Slovak culture minister. Czech artists say the former sister state should offer them jobs or at least a platform for expression.

A Kantar agency survey for Czech Television found that only 17 percent of Czechs were satisfied with the state of Czech politics. Since the survey was published, austerity policies aimed at tackling the public deficit have added to the general dissatisfaction. Czechs are mainly dissatisfied with the government's handling of inflation, rising living…

The Czech government has decided that the country's candidate for the next European Commission will be the current minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening that Mr. Síkela had a proven track record in both the private sector and government. I spoke with Viktor Daněk, d…

Yale historian Timothy Snyder was in Prague last week at the Plus and Václav Havel Library conference Borders of (Un)Freedom. The next day, he was interviewed by Czech Radio journalist Jan Bumba. They discussed topics ranging from the Republican nomination of Donald Trump as presidential candidate; how a Trump election might impact Europe and Russi…

Senior politicians in Prague have been reacting to US President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will no longer seek reelection in the 2024 US presidential elections. The Czech prime minister called it the decision of a statesman, while the foreign minister said it reflected Mr. Biden’s love of his country.…