Czech politicians clash over Ukrainian ‘neo-Nazis’
A Czech Member of the European Parliament has complained to the country’s Foreign Minister about a planned visit to Prague by fighters from Ukraine's neo-Nazi unit, calling on the government to “distance itself” from the event.
Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, which is closely linked to the neo-Nazi Azov movement, is scheduled to visit the Czech capital on Wednesday. The brigade is currently touring Europe to drum up support for Kiev in its conflict with Russia, and to encourage Ukrainians residing in the EU to enlist.
In her letter to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on Monday, MEP Katerina Konecna wrote that “the Azov Regiment represents the darkest aspects of Ukrainian nationalism and neo-Nazism.”
“The holding of an event that legitimizes and encourages neo-Nazism should be vehemently denounced,” the Czech Communist Party MEP went on to post on X (formerly Twitter).
Officially established in early 2023 and led by Ukrainian nationalist and white supremacist Andrey Biletsky, the 3rd Assault Brigade includes many members of the neo-Nazi Azov Regiment. The latter was accused of multiple war crimes during the fighting in Donbass, which erupted after a Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014.
The MEP noted that the tour was canceled in the German cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Cologne, and in Brussels due to opposition from the public and local governments, as well as security concerns, and called on the Czech government to “distance itself” from the visit.
In response, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky issued a stern rebuke to Konecna.
“Katerina, that's enough. While reading, I hesitated as to which state you were elected for,” Lipavsky wrote in a post on X. The minister went on to claim that “if anyone is imitating the Nazis… it is Russia.”
Independent Czech Senator Jana Zwyrtek Hamplova argued on Wednesday that the Azov regiment has no business in Prague (or in any other city or village), and that the planned meeting threatens the safety of Czech citizens.
The Czech Republic, a NATO member, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Prague has voiced support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO and pledged to provide its government and army with all the necessary assistance for as long as needed. Prague announced in March that it would deliver thousands of artillery shells to Ukraine.
Czech President Petr Pavel said recently that the West can put an end to the Ukraine conflict by giving Kiev all the weapons it needs.
Russia has long argued that by providing arms to Ukraine, the Western countries only prolong the conflict and lead to more civilian casualties. The Kremlin also slammed the 3rd Assault Brigade’s European tour as “disgusting” and argued that it serves as further proof of Kiev’s attempts to spread neo-Nazi ideology.
