Czech parliament removes Ukrainian flag on far-right speaker’s order

By Salih Okuroglu

VIENNA (AA) - The newly elected speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, far-right politician Tomio Okamura, has ordered the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the parliament building, ending a symbolic gesture of solidarity that had been in place since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to Radio Prague International, Okamura, leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD), issued the instruction shortly after assuming his new role.

The flag, which had flown alongside the Czech and the EU banners since February 2022, was taken down by parliamentary staff.

Former speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova described the move as “a shameful step" against the values shared by both countries.

Leaders of opposition parties also condemned the decision, saying it weakened the country’s solidarity with Ukraine and its pro-Western orientation.

While the Ukrainian flag has been removed, the Israeli flag, which was added to the building in October 2023, remains displayed alongside the Czech and EU flags.

Okamura's SPD party recently entered a coalition government with the ANO movement, which won last month’s general election, and the right-wing Motorists Party.