The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, sharply reacted to the New Year’s address of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Tomio Okamura, condemning his words as a manifestation of “ignorance, manipulation, and cynicism.”
This is reported by Kyiv24
Reactions of Ukrainian Politicians to Okamura’s Statements
Stefanchuk emphasized that Okamura’s remarks demean not only Ukraine but also harm the image of the Czech Republic and its citizens, who, according to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, continue to stand for dignity and justice. He expressed the gratitude of the Ukrainian people to Czech society and its worthy representatives for their support during difficult times.
“Therefore, I do not seek to assess the statements of the Czech Speaker, as I know that they are exclusively his personal position, not the position of the Czech Parliament and, even more so, the Czech people. I am convinced that the harshest assessment of Okamura’s words will come from the Czechs themselves. And we will definitely find out whether he was a useful idiot or an FSB agent,” he wrote on Facebook.
The Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, also condemned Okamura’s statements, describing them as “indecent and absolutely unacceptable,” and noted that they were formed under the influence of Russian propaganda.
Content of Okamura’s Address and Political Context in the Czech Republic
In his New Year’s speech, Tomio Okamura once again opposed the transfer of weapons to Ukraine, calling it support for an “absolutely senseless war.” He stated that he hopes for a change in the political course of the Czech Republic and for the country to break free from the influence of Brussels, as well as expressing a number of accusations against Ukrainian officials and the West.
Okamura added that he does not wish to see Ukraine among the countries of the European Union and expressed opinions about corruption and abuse of power. His speech provoked outrage among Ukrainian politicians, who emphasize that such statements are Okamura’s personal position, not that of the Czech Republic as a whole.
It is worth noting that immediately after his appointment as Speaker of Parliament in November, Tomio Okamura ordered the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the building of the Chamber of Deputies, but opposition representatives hung other flags of their parliamentary factions in its place.
In December, a new government was formed in the Czech Republic led by billionaire Andrej Babiš. It is expected that his cabinet will pursue a less pro-Ukrainian policy compared to the previous government of Petr Fiala. In particular, Babiš’s party advocates for reducing support for Ukraine and halting the supply of weapons to Kyiv.