logo
Czech authorities investigating allegations of unauthorized drone shipments to Ukraine

Czech authorities investigating allegations of unauthorized drone shipments to Ukraine

Yahoo10-02-2025

Prague is investigating allegations of unauthorized drone shipments from Czechia to Ukraine, Ceske Noviny reported on Feb. 9, citing Defense Minister Jana Cernochova.
The investigation is focused on the Nemesis project, organized by the Skupina D association, which has been raising funds to procure drones for Ukraine.
According to media outlet Aktualne.cz, members of Skupina D are suspected of supplying drones to Ukraine, possibly with the involvement of Czech military personnel, without authorization from the parliament.
Czech military police spokesperson Katerina Mlynkova confirmed that authorities are examining "possible unauthorized handling of Defense Ministry property and possible use of military personnel outside the tasks of the armed forces."
According to Aktualne.cz, members of the Czech Army's 601st Special Forces Group allegedly transported military equipment to Ukraine without the necessary parliamentary approval. The Czech constitution requires lawmakers' consent before deploying national armed forces abroad.
Read also: Illegal border crossing attempts in Ukraine have nearly halved since last summer, Border Guard says
An unnamed source cited by the outlet claimed that "someone decided to send soldiers" to Ukraine with military equipment without following proper legal procedures. At least one such trip reportedly took place in 2024.
"We can't just close up and say everything is fine when we know it's not, based on the inspection," Cernochova said.
Last year, Cernochova voiced concerns over the Czech Army's General Staff's participation in the Nemesis initiative. The Defense Ministry subsequently launched an inspection over the use of military facilities for drone testing.
Chief of Staff of the Czech Army, General Karel Rehka, is the honorary chairman of Skupina D. According to the Czech media, Rehka's relationship with Minister Cernochova has long been mired by disputes over defense procurement.
Despite the controversy, the Nemesis drone initiative has gained significant public support, raising over 203 million Czech crowns ($8.5 million) to supply drones to Ukraine.
Read also: Europe mulls large-scale seizures of Russia's 'shadow fleet' ships, Politico reports
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Czech government installs new minister after bitcoin scandal
Czech government installs new minister after bitcoin scandal

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Czech government installs new minister after bitcoin scandal

PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala appointed a new justice minister on Tuesday to replace political veteran Pavel Blazek, who triggered a political storm when he accepted a payment to the state by an ex-convict worth $45 million in bitcoin. Outcry over the payment could dent the ruling coalition's chances in an October 3-4 election in which they trail the opposition. Blazek, a respected lawyer, has said he did nothing illegal but resigned his post and quit Fiala's Civic Democrat (ODS) party after accepting the donation from a man convicted of running an online drug market. Fiala named Eva Decroix as the new justice minister and said she was coming at an important time "to restore trust in the ministry and ensure full transparency around the donated bitcoins." He told her to request an immediate independent audit. The man who made the donation of 468 bitcoins was in jail from 2017 until 2021 after being convicted of involvement in the drug trade, fraud and illegal possession of weapons. The opposition ANO party plans a no-confidence vote in the government that is likely to fail but may harm Fiala and his allies in voters' eyes. Blazek was attacked for possibly legitimising the ex-convict's assets, instead of turning to prosecutors or police to help secure them. Opposition leader Andrej Babis, a former prime minister whose ANO party looks on course to win the most votes in October's election, has blasted the government for corruption.

Czech president appoints a new justice minister amid a bitcoin scandal

time9 hours ago

Czech president appoints a new justice minister amid a bitcoin scandal

PRAGUE -- Czech President Petr Pavel swore in a new justice minister on Tuesday, another step in a political crisis caused by a bitcoin-related scandal. Pavel appointed Eva Decroix after her predecessor Pavel Blažek resigned from the post on May 30. He was under fire from the opposition because his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoins and sold them for almost 1 billion Czech koruna ($46 million) earlier this year. Blažek said that he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing, but didn't want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be harmed by the scandal. Fiala said that he appreciated his resignation and believed that Blažek acted with goodwill. Blažek was a close ally of Fiala in the government and also in his conservative Civic Democratic Party. The new minister is from the same party. Decroix said she will order an independent probe into the ministry's activities in the case. 'The public trust in the institutions and the state is at stake,' Pavel said. The issue focused on the fact that the bitcoins were donated to the ministry by a person who was previously convicted of drug dealing and other crimes while it was not clear why he did it. The opposition has accused Blažek of possible money laundering, because it wasn't clear where the bitcoins originated. The opposition parties demand the resignation of the entire government and are planning to request a parliamentary no-confidence vote. It could take place later in June. The issue has been investigated by the national police's organized crime unit. The scandal is taking place just months before the Oct 3-4 parliamentary election. The main opposition ANO (YES) party led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is predicted to win the vote.

Czech president appoints a new justice minister amid a bitcoin scandal
Czech president appoints a new justice minister amid a bitcoin scandal

San Francisco Chronicle​

time11 hours ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Czech president appoints a new justice minister amid a bitcoin scandal

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech President Petr Pavel swore in a new justice minister on Tuesday, another step in a political crisis caused by a bitcoin-related scandal. Pavel appointed Eva Decroix after her predecessor Pavel Blažek resigned from the post on May 30. He was under fire from the opposition because his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoins and sold them for almost 1 billion Czech koruna ($46 million) earlier this year. Blažek said that he wasn't aware of any wrongdoing, but didn't want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be harmed by the scandal. Fiala said that he appreciated his resignation and believed that Blažek acted with goodwill. Blažek was a close ally of Fiala in the government and also in his conservative Civic Democratic Party. The new minister is from the same party. Decroix said she will order an independent probe into the ministry's activities in the case. 'The public trust in the institutions and the state is at stake,' Pavel said. The issue focused on the fact that the bitcoins were donated to the ministry by a person who was previously convicted of drug dealing and other crimes while it was not clear why he did it. The opposition has accused Blažek of possible money laundering, because it wasn't clear where the bitcoins originated. The opposition parties demand the resignation of the entire government and are planning to request a parliamentary no-confidence vote. It could take place later in June. The issue has been investigated by the national police's organized crime unit. The scandal is taking place just months before the Oct 3-4 parliamentary election. The main opposition ANO (YES) party led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is predicted to win the vote.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store