Tens of thousands of Czech First protesters demand an end to sanctions war against Russia

Tens of thousands of Czech First protesters took to the streets of Prague demanding their government to take a neutral stance towards the war in Ukraine as energy prices spiraled out of control.

The Associated Press described the protesters as “far right and left”, representing the anti-mass immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy Party and the 70,000-strong Communist Party, according to law enforcement.

They denounced the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who has been in power since December last year, and called for the government’s resignation, accusing it of putting Ukraine’s interests before those of the Czech Republic.

A protest poster that read “Best for the Ukrainians and two sweaters for us” pointed to the likely need to pay for electricity in the winter and the fact that the country of about 10 million received about 400,000 Ukrainian refugees.

NATO and the European Union, of which the Czech Republic currently heads, are also under fire – the latter particularly for its zero climate agenda.

Solve problems and problems. Počet účasníků and 14.30 h odžujeme assi na 70 tíčík. pic.twitter.com/9J4QGDEg3j

— Police of the Czech Republic (@PolicieCZ) September 3, 2022

Prime Minister Fiala, who previously likened Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the suppression of the Prague Spring by Soviet tanks in 1969, said the protest was “organized by pro-Russian people close to extremist positions and their interests conflicted with those of the Czech Republic”. ” “.

“It is clear that Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns are being carried out on our land, and some people are just listening to them,” said the Czech leader, who survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence on energy prices on Friday. .

The Fiala government became the first NATO in April this year to send tanks to Ukraine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.