Czech politician calls for cutting all payments for Ukrainian refugees
Photo: Ukrainian refugees in Czechia (Getty Images)
Tomio Okamura, Speaker of the lower house of the Czech Parliament, has called for the complete abolition of the temporary protection regime and all social benefits for Ukrainian refugees. According to him, those who have jobs should switch to general residence permits, while the rest should return to Ukraine once the war ends, CNN Prima NEWS reports.
What Okamura proposes
'I advocate for the immediate and complete abolition of temporary protection and benefits for all Ukrainians," says the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party on CNN Prima NEWS.
According to him, employed Ukrainians should switch to regular residence permits, like other foreigners, and all those without jobs should return to their homeland as soon as the war ends.
What has already changed
Okamura cites as a success the already adopted stricter rules for new applicants from Ukraine—men of draft age can no longer automatically receive temporary protection in the EU. According to him, it was thanks to the SPD's efforts that such men were stripped of their automatic right to asylum in the EU.
Who is exempt from this rule
The new requirement applies only to future applicants. Ukrainians who already had valid temporary protection at the time this decision was made and have maintained that status continuously do not need to prove they have fulfilled their military service—their protection is guaranteed until 2028.
What Okamura really wants
However, Okamura himself considers these already adopted restrictions insufficient. The SPD leader proposes going significantly beyond current EU rules—not merely limiting the acceptance of new male applicants, but completely abolishing the entire temporary protection regime in Czechia and ceasing all payments to its current recipients.
New requirements for Ukrainian men of draft age in Czechia have already taken effect. On August 16, Czechia clarified the list of documents required to obtain temporary protection—the requirements vary depending on the applicant’s age.
Even earlier, starting August 5, dozens of Ukrainians were denied temporary protection in Czechia because they were unable to provide documentation confirming they had fulfilled their military service obligations.
These changes are part of a pan-European decision—as of August 5, throughout the European Union, the new requirements apply to men aged 23 to 60, who must provide proof of having fulfilled their military service or the right to leave Ukraine. Despite this, according to Eurostat, the total number of Ukrainians under temporary protection in EU countries continues to rise.
