Czech Parliament speaker's New Year address 'manipulative and cynical', Ukrainian counterpart says
Photo: Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk (Getty Images)
Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, says the New Year's address by Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura is an example of ignorance, manipulation, and cynicism. With his words about Ukraine, he is primarily harming Czechia and its citizens.
"Tomio Okamura's New Year's address is a striking example of ignorance, manipulation, and cynicism. By once again insulting Ukraine and Ukrainians, he is actually harming and disgracing Czechia and the Czech people, who remain on the side of dignity and justice, on the side of Ukraine," he says.
Stefanchuk notes that he does not seek to evaluate Okamura's statements, as he knows that they are 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 be given by the Czechs themselves — and, of course, by history, in which his name is unlikely to be preserved. And we will definitely find out whether he was a useful idiot or an FSB agent," the speaker of the Rada says.
Background
In his New Year's address, Okamura said that Czech state funds should not be used to purchase weapons and support military operations abroad. He also criticized the West for supporting Kyiv because, in his opinion, Ukraine's partners are making money from the production and sale of weapons on credit.
In addition, the speaker of the Czech parliament called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage a junta, questioning their legitimacy.
The controversial politician also expressed his belief that Czechia should get off the Brussels train that is moving towards World War III, despite warnings from the US.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responds to Okamura
In response to Okamura's statements, Ukrainian Ambassador to Czechia Vasyl Zvarych noted that the Czech Parliament Speaker's words about Ukraine were his personal opinion, clearly influenced by Russian propaganda.
On November 5, Japanese-born businessman and politician Tomio Okamura became the head of the lower house of the Czech Parliament.
On his first day as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in November, Tomio Okamura removed the Ukrainian flag from the Czech Parliament. Enraged Czech MPs subsequently hung three new ones.
