Prague Society

30/04/2026

Chinese sanctions on Czech arms companies.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China announced on the 24th Aprilo that seven European Union entities would be added to China’s export control list, with an immediate ban on the export of dual-use goods to those organizations. Included in this list are four Czech firms: Excalibur, Omnipol, VZLU Aerospace, and SpaceKnow.

According to a ministry spokesperson, the measures specifically target a small number of EU military-related companies accused by Beijing of participating in arms sales to Taiwan or cooperating with Taiwanese authorities. China presented the move as a focused response connected to Taiwan-related defence activities rather than a broader action against the European Union as a whole.

According to Announcement No. 20 of 2026 issued by the Ministry of Commerce, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items of the People's Republic of China, it has been decided to add seven EU entities, including Herstal, to the export control list. Exporters are prohibited from exporting dual-use items to these entities, and foreign organizations and individuals are prohibited from transferring or providing dual-use items originating in the People's Republic of China to these entities. Furthermore, any ongoing related activities must cease immediately. This announcement takes effect from the date of its publication.
The seven EU entities mentioned above are Herstal (Belgium), Omnipol (Czech Republic), Hensolt (Germany), Safran (Czech Republic), SpaceKnow (Czech Republic), the Czech Aerospace Research and Testing Institute, and FN Browning (Belgium). Taiwan's United Daily News reported on the 24th that most of these seven EU entities subject to Chinese export controls operate in the fields of military industry, defense electronics, aerospace, or satellite intelligence analysis. China Times News Network stated that this move is widely interpreted as the latest countermeasure by China in response to foreign military cooperation with Taiwan. The media outlet analysed that in recent years, China's response to arms sales to Taiwan has become increasingly institutionalized, mainly through mechanisms such as the "unreliable entity list" to impose sanctions, including restricting companies' import and export activities and investment activities in mainland China, and even freezing related assets.

24/04/2026

The Russian Embassy in Prague is completely surrounded.
Boris Nemtsov Square. Anna Politkovskaya Promenade. Alexey Navalny Outlook. Ukrainian Heroes Street.
Every diplomat, every car, every delivery — all of it moves through names the Kremlin tried to erase.
No one does this quite like Prague.

The Russian Embassy in Prague is completely surrounded.

Boris Nemtsov Square. Anna Politkovskaya Promenade. Alexey Navalny Outlook. Ukrainian Heroes Street.

Every diplomat, every car, every delivery — all of it moves through names the Kremlin tried to erase.

No one does this quite like Prague.

Support link is in the first comment.

27/03/2026

Senate of the Czech Parliament supports election of Dalai Lama without Chinese interference. 'He wouldn't have support,' says Vice Speaker Seitlová.

The Chinese communist regime should not interfere in the election of the future Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, according to the Senate, even though it controls the territory of Tibet. The senators agreed on this on Wednesday at the end of their March meeting on the proposal of the Senate Committee on Human Rights. The Chinese Embassy in Prague has in the past described similar activities as interference in China's internal affairs. Source: iRozhlaz

„Takto zvolený představitel by neměl žádnou kulturní, náboženskou ani komunitní autenticitu nebo podporu,“ uvedla místopředsedkyně Senátu Jitka Seitlová (KDU-ČSL).

20/03/2026

PRC Cyber-attacks : The European Council sanctions three entities and two individuals

16 March 2026: The Council adopted today restrictive measures against three entities and two individuals responsible for cyber-attacks carried out against EU member states and EU partners.

The Council has listed Integrity Technology Group, a China-based company, that has routinely provided products used to compromise and access devices in EU members states, across Europe and worldwide. Between 2022 and 2023, through their technical and material support, more than 65,000 devices were hacked across six member states.

Similarly, Anxun Information Technology, a China-based company, has provided hacking services aimed at the critical infrastructure and critical functions of member states and third countries. The two Chinese individuals also listed today by the Council, are co-founders of the company and were responsible for and involved in cyber-attacks affecting EU member states.

Lastly, the Iranian company Emennet Pasargad has unlawfully gained access to a French subscriber database and advertised its contents for sale on the dark web. They also compromised advertising billboards to spread disinformation during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Additionally, the company compromised a Swedish SMS service, impacting a large number of EU citizens.

Those listed today under both regimes are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. Natural persons also face a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

With today’s listings the EU horizontal cyber sanctions regime now applies to 19 individuals and 7 entities.

The Council adopted restrictive measures against three entities and two individuals responsible for cyber-attacks against EU member  states and EU partners.

08/03/2026

The war in Ukraine could have ended sooner if Kyiv had received the same air defense systems deployed in the Gulf countries during the first seven days of the war in the Middle East, Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes.

In an interview with Bloomberg, he estimated that the first week of hostilities in Iran alone cost approximately $40 billion—roughly the same amount European countries spend annually on aid to Ukraine.

He also stated that strikes on Iran could limit the country’s cooperation with the Russian Federation regarding missiles or the defense industry. At the same time, Russia already has two factories producing "Shaheds" using Iranian technology. A likely negative consequence of the conflict in the Middle East is the rise in oil prices, which "will effectively fuel the Russian war machine."

06/03/2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will support US air defence efforts against Iranian Shahed drone strikes in the Middle East. Zelensky stated on March 5 that Ukraine received a request from the United States for “specific support” to defend against Iranian Shahed drone strikes in the Middle East, and that Zelensky gave the instructions to provide equipment and Ukrainian specialists to assist in air defence efforts.

Zelensky stated on March 4 that he discussed Ukrainian air defence assistance against Shahed drone strikes with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The Financial Times (FT) reported on March 5, citing Ukrainian industry figures, that the United States Department of Defence and at least one Gulf state are in talks to purchase Ukrainian-made interceptor drones to repel Iranian Shahed drones. A person familiar with the talks told FT that about 12 Ukrainian companies manufacture relatively cheap interceptor drones that cost a few thousand dollars each, compared to the millions of dollars that PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot air defence systems cost. Ukrainian officials have offered several times in recent days to support US air defences against Iranian strikes.

Ukraine has years of experience defending against almost nightly large-scale Russian drone and missile strike packages, which have included Iranian-origin strike drones much like those the United States currently faces in the Middle East, and reportedly has a 90% interception rate of such drones.

25/02/2026

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Russian full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, a solidarity event with Ukraine took place in Prague at the Taras Shevchenko Monument with the participation of the Speaker of the Senate of the Czech Republic Miloš Vystrčil and senators, Ambassador Vasyl Zvaryč and diplomats, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Bohdany Laiuk, Mayor of Prague 5 Lukáš Herold and representatives of the Czech media.

21/02/2026

Today marks eight years since the murder of Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, who were killed on 21 February 2018 in their home in Veľká Mača, Slovakia.

Eight years have passed, yet the shock of that crime still resonates far beyond the village where their lives were so brutally taken. Ján was a courageous investigative journalist committed to exposing corruption and defending the public interest. Martina, preparing for her wedding and building a future filled with promise, was an innocent victim of an act that sought to silence truth through violence.

Their deaths shook a nation and awakened a powerful civic response. Out of tragedy came a renewed determination among citizens to defend transparency, justice, and the rule of law. The values for which Ján worked; integrity, accountability, and the belief that truth matters remain enduring pillars of a democratic society.

We remember Ján not only as a journalist, but as a man of principle whose quiet persistence gave voice to the public good. We remember Martina not only as a victim, but as a daughter, a fiancée, and a young woman whose life was filled with hope and love.

May their memory continue to inspire courage in those who speak truth to power, strength in those who seek justice, and unity in those who believe that no act of violence can extinguish the light of truth.

They are not forgotten.

20/02/2026

The Czech Republic is interested in stable relations with China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said after the meeting of ministers.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Macinka met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, including visas and the possibility of direct flights to Shanghai. Both sides expressed interest in maintaining stable relations.

Wang stated that although the Czech Republic and China have a traditional friendship, relations have experienced difficulties in recent years that serve neither side’s interests. He welcomed what he described as the new Czech government’s active effort to improve ties and said Beijing would work toward restoring relations to “healthy development.” He also emphasized the importance of the Czech Republic adhering to the one-China principle and respecting China’s core interests.

The meeting comes ahead of the tenth anniversary in March of the Czech-Chinese strategic partnership agreement, signed during President Xi Jinping’s 2016 visit to Prague under then-President Miloš Zeman. While that period saw numerous agreements and investment memoranda, the actual economic benefits fell short of initial expectations. Macinka reportedly said he hopes the anniversary could open a new chapter in relations. Chinese state media also reported that he reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s adherence to the one-China policy. In the past, Beijing has criticized Prague over contacts with Taiwan and President Petr Pavel’s meeting with the Dalai Lama.

On the sidelines of the conference, Macinka also met foreign ministers from Montenegro, Austria, and India, as well as German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. With Dobrindt, he discussed migration and protection of the EU’s external borders, agreeing on closer coordination and improved information-sharing to enhance security while maintaining smooth cross-border movement. Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar is also expected to meet Dobrindt in Berlin on 25 February.

Mnichov/Peking - Česko má zájem na stabilních vztazích s Čínou. Po dnešním setkání ministra zahraničí Petra Macinky s šéfem čínské diplomacie Wang Iem na okraj Mnichovské bezpečnostní konference to uvedlo na facebooku ministerstvo zahraničích věcí (MZV). Podle čínské stá...