Latest news with #PetrPavel
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Czech president ends probe of soldiers over Afghanistan torture claim
The Czech Republic has dropped criminal investigations against four soldiers in connection with serious allegations of torture of an Afghan man during a mission in Afghanistan in a move ordered by President Petr Pavel. By closing the investigations, Pavel - himself a former NATO general - was making use of a constitutional provision, the presidential office said in Prague on Wednesday. The president had acted in response to the defendants' pleas for clemency, it added in a statement. The Czech Republic was involved in the NATO mission in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2021. The allegations date back to 2018, when an Afghan man shot and killed a Czech soldier at a military base and seriously injured two others. After his arrest, he was interrogated by four members of a Czech special unit and by US soldiers, according to the CTK news agency. Shortly afterwards, he was taken to a field hospital, where he died. The Czech public prosecutor's office filed charges against the four military personnel in April. It accused two of them of coercion and insubordination and two others of failure to render assistance and neglect of their duties as soldiers. A spokesman for the president justified the decision, citing among other things the "exceptional nature of the war situation," the "difficult international context" and the length of the investigation.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Czech Republic bans photography of military installations
The Czech Republic is to ban photography of military facilities and installations, after the Senate on Wednesday approved the relevant law, which had previously been passed by the lower house. The new law provides for fines of up to 100,000 Czech koruny, or crowns ($4,560). President Petr Pavel has yet to sign it into law, but this is seen as a formality. The aim of the law is to prevent espionage that could facilitate attacks. A similar law was revoked in 1998. The new law expressly bans photography using drones. Signs are to be erected at military facilities indicating the ban. The attention of tourists will be drawn to military facilities, such as the Defence Ministry near Prague Castle, a popular attraction. The country's military police are to be given additional powers to enforce the ban. These include the right to enter properties where there is acute danger to life and limb. They will also be allowed to seize driver's licences and act against unauthorized wearing of uniforms. Poland recently passed similar legislation. The two countries are significant backers of Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion.
Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Czech president pardons soldiers prosecuted in death of Afghan prisoner
Czech President Petr Pavel, arrives for a meeting with international investors in IA at the Elysee Palace as part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, France, February 10, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo PRAGUE - Czech President Petr Pavel granted pardons on Wednesday to four members of the country's special forces, who had been facing prosecution for alleged crimes related to the death of a detained Afghan soldier. The four members of the 601st special operations forces group were to stand trial on charges of extortion, insubordination, violation of guard duty obligations and failure to provide aid. Czech media had reported that the accusations related to the death of 19-year-old Wahidullah Khan after he was detained over an attack on troops at the Shindand base in western Afghanistan in 2018. One Czech soldier was killed in the attack and two others were injured. "After carefully assessing all the circumstances of this case, the President of the Republic took into account in particular the exceptional nature of the war situation in which the incident under investigation occurred," Pavel's office said. It added that the fact the soldiers were not primarily accused of violent crimes had also been taken into consideration. The New York Times first reported the incident in 2018. It reported that Khan was beaten after being taken into custody by U.S. and Czech troops, was unconscious when he was returned to Afghan forces the same day and died shortly afterwards. U.S. and Czech troops were being investigated over the incident, it reported at the time. The Czech army operated in Afghanistan from 2002 until 2021. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Czech president pardons soldiers prosecuted in death of Afghan prisoner
PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech President Petr Pavel granted pardons on Wednesday to four members of the country's special forces, who had been facing prosecution for alleged crimes related to the death of a detained Afghan soldier. The four members of the 601st special operations forces group were to stand trial on charges of extortion, insubordination, violation of guard duty obligations and failure to provide aid. Czech media had reported that the accusations related to the death of 19-year-old Wahidullah Khan after he was detained over an attack on troops at the Shindand base in western Afghanistan in 2018. One Czech soldier was killed in the attack and two others were injured. "After carefully assessing all the circumstances of this case, the President of the Republic took into account in particular the exceptional nature of the war situation in which the incident under investigation occurred," Pavel's office said. It added that the fact the soldiers were not primarily accused of violent crimes had also been taken into consideration. The New York Times first reported the incident in 2018. It reported that Khan was beaten after being taken into custody by U.S. and Czech troops, was unconscious when he was returned to Afghan forces the same day and died shortly afterwards. U.S. and Czech troops were being investigated over the incident, it reported at the time. The Czech army operated in Afghanistan from 2002 until 2021.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Czech president pardons soldiers prosecuted in death of Afghan soldier
FILE PHOTO: Czech President Petr Pavel, arrives for a meeting with international investors in IA at the Elysee Palace as part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, France, February 10, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
