Latest news with #ČTK
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Czech teacher receives suspended sentence for denying Russian war crimes in Ukraine
A Prague court has handed a suspended sentence to teacher Martina Bednářová for denying Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Source: Czech news agency ČTK, as reported by European Pravda Details: Bednářová brought up the topic of Ukraine during a lesson for eighth-grade pupils in early April 2022. She told the pupils that Russia's actions were a justified way to resolve the situation and claimed that "nothing was happening" in Kyiv. When the pupils pointed out they had seen footage of Kyiv being attacked on Czech television news, Bednářová replied that public television was biased. She also said that, in her opinion, Ukrainian "Nazi groups in Donbas" had been "systematically destroying Russians" since 2014. The District Court for Prague 6 heard her case for the third time. She had previously been acquitted twice, with the second verdict upheld by an appellate court. However, in January, the Czech Supreme Court overturned the rulings and ordered a retrial. The prosecutor's office requested a suspended sentence and a five-year ban on working in education or any role involving children for the now dismissed Bednářová. Bednářová's supporters cited freedom of speech and stressed the need for "tolerance of differing opinions", noting that some of the views she expressed have also been voiced by politicians such as Donald Trump. In the end, Bednářová was found guilty of violating education law, internal school regulations and the labour code. She was sentenced to seven months of a suspended sentence with a probation period of 20 months. Bednářová was also banned from teaching for three years and must complete a media literacy training course. The verdict is not final. Bednářová, who is running for the Chamber of Deputies in the upcoming elections on the Prague list of the Czech communist movement Stačilo!, called the court ruling political. She also claimed that "Russians were tortured" in Ukraine, the mass killing in the town of Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, had not yet been investigated, and that the media is misinforming the public about the war. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Czechia becomes fully independent of Russian oil for first time in history
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has announced that, for the first time in its history, Czechia has become fully independent of Russian oil supplies. Source: Czech news agency ČTK, as reported by European Pravda Quote from Fiala: "We have taken another step towards our energy independence." Details: Prime Minister Fiala confirmed that Czechia achieved this milestone after the completion of modernisation works on the TAL oil pipeline, which brings oil from the west. He reported that the first increased volumes of oil via this pipeline had already arrived at the central oil depot in Czechia. The country is now capable of transferring up to 8 million tonnes of crude oil annually through western pipelines, fully covering the consumption of Czech oil refineries. Background: In January, Fiala stated that the country was prepared to fully transition to oil supplies via the western TAL and IKL pipelines in case of a shortage of Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline. He had previously mentioned that Czechia would rid itself of dependence on Russian oil no later than mid-2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU leaders to call on Russia to show will to end war
The leaders of the European Union are planning to adopt a statement calling on Russia to demonstrate a real willingness to end the war in Ukraine at a meeting in Brussels on 20-21 March. Source: European Pravda; Czech news agency ČTK, which has a draft of the summit's final document Details: ČTK reports that EU leaders will reaffirm their support for a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law" in the summit's conclusions. They will also support the agreements between Ukraine and the United States following the meeting in Saudi Arabia on 11 March, in particular "the proposal for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts and the resumption of intelligence sharing and security aid by the United States". "The European Council calls on Russia to demonstrate a true political will to end the war," the draft conclusions of the EU summit read, as quoted by the news agency. Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to speak at the next EU summit, which is scheduled for 20-21 March. Hungary's representatives insist on reducing the section on Ukraine in the summit's final document by removing references to continued military support for Ukraine and peace from a position of strength. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Czech Defence Ministry: Arms exports to Ukraine increased by a third in 2024
Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová has stated that military equipment exports to Ukraine increased by at least a third last year. Source: Czech news agency ČTK citing Černochová's remarks at a press conference on 25 February, as reported by European Pravda Details: During a meeting with Czech arms manufacturers, Černochová presented the latest estimates indicating that exports of military equipment from Czechia to Ukraine increased by at least a third last year. She did not specify exact figures but mentioned that this included an initiative to supply Ukraine with shells purchased from third countries. Černochová said that 1.5 million large-calibre munitions were delivered from Czechia to Ukraine last year. This year, the country intends to continue supplying them. Quote from Černochová: "If we want to continue the ammunition initiative, we need sufficient funds from these donors. So far, Canada, the Netherlands and Denmark have pledged to help finance it, and, of course, Czechia is also contributing." Details: She noted that partner contributions to the "ammunition initiative" currently amount to hundreds of millions of euros. Background: In mid-January, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that 80% of the ammunition pledged in the Czech initiative had been delivered to Ukraine. He expressed gratitude to Czechia for this initiative, which he said had proven to be very useful. As reported earlier, Czech Chief of General Staff Karel Řehka considers the relocation of part of the training of Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine a political decision but believes it is feasible from a military perspective. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Czechia presents plan for Ukraine's and Moldova's integration into EU's internal market
On Tuesday, 28 January, Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák presented a plan for Ukraine's and Moldova's integration into the EU's internal market to his European colleagues. Source: ČTK news agency, as reported by European Pravda Details: Dvořák said that the plan focuses on specific proposals to deepen EU cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova, in particular in energy, telecommunications, environment and agriculture. Quote: "I presented the Czech initiative to help Moldova and Ukraine integrate into the internal market faster. We believe this is an important step that can speed up the whole process," the Czech minister explained. He added that so far, the Czechs have managed to enlist the support of nine other EU countries: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Romania, Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden and Denmark. The document, quoted by ČTK, states that further economic integration into the EU through free trade agreements would significantly support Moldova and Ukraine "in their efforts to counteract the pernicious Russian influence". Dvořák said that the acceleration of integration would be based on "our technical assistance, closer cooperation, creation of working groups and establishing contacts". Background: The preparation of the plan and its presentation at the EU level became known last week. Meanwhile, according to media reports, the European Commission is allegedly considering not extending the preferential trade regime for Ukraine in its current form and has already started technical negotiations on new trade terms. Support UP or become our patron!
