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Photo: IMAGO/Michal Kamaryt / IMAGO/CTK Photo
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the Czech government in Prague on Saturday, accusing it of taking the interests of Ukraine more seriously than those of its own people.
According to the police, around 70,000 people gathered at the rally under the motto "The Czech Republic First" on central Wenceslas Square to protest against high inflation, which is being driven by high energy prices.
But there were also demonstrations against corona vaccinations and the admission of migrants.
The demonstrators called for the resignation of the centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, which has only been in office since December.
"The best for the Ukrainians and two sweaters for us," read a banner.
The demonstrators accused the government of supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russia with sanctions, but not helping the Czechs, who are suffering from high heating costs.
Energy prices are currently rising across Europe because the EU is buying far less natural gas from Russia because of the war in Ukraine.
Apparently, Moscow is also deliberately restricting gas supplies in order to stir up protests in the West.
Prime Minister Fiala speaks of Russian propaganda
The Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency, has taken in around 400,000 war refugees from Ukraine.
The government has also supplied Kyiv with military supplies and humanitarian aid on a large scale.
On Friday, Fiala's government survived a vote of confidence in parliament requested by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis' populist ANO party and a right-wing extremist party.
Speaking of Saturday's demonstration, Fiala said it was organized by "pro-Russian individuals close to extremist positions" whose interests ran counter to those of the Czech Republic.
"It is clear that there are Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns on our territory and some people just listen to them," the prime minister said.
slu/AFP