Czech artists sign petition in support of embattled Slovak colleagues
Leading Czech cultural figures have come out in support of their Slovak colleagues, many of whom have recently been sacked for opposing the policies of the Slovak culture minister. Czech artists say the former sister state should offer them jobs or at least a platform for expression.
Slovak cultural institutions are undergoing purges similar to those seen in Communist Czechoslovakia during the 1950s and 1970s. Artists deemed unfriendly to the current government are losing their jobs and facing persecution for protesting against the policies of Slovak Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. One of the organizers of the petition supporting Slovak colleagues is film director and actor Břetislav Rychlík:
"I know that purges are taking place at the level of small regional cultural institutions. We see the scope of these actions in major institutions like the Slovak National Theatre or the Slovak National Gallery, but there are also people in the regions who are being eliminated in a way that is simply disgraceful. And when they win, for example, a selection process for another organization, their previous employers ensure that they are not hired."
The statement also proposes establishing a Czech-Slovak cultural fund to provide financial assistance to those impacted in Slovakia. Another film director, Jan Hřebejk, explains what motivated him to join the initiative and sign the petition:
"Because I want to show solidarity with people who could potentially lose their jobs as a result of this. Different people might be afraid and then hesitate to hire. We are here to make sure that, in the Czech Republic, we simply offer jobs or at least a platform for expression."
According to Břetislav Rychlík, the Slovak authorities are attempting to use criminal proceedings against those artists and cultural professionals who dare to call for the resignation of Minister Šimkovičová:
"Those involved in the most-signed petition in Slovak history, which called for the dismissal of the minister, were persecuted by the police at the minister’s instigation. The police initially dismissed the possibility of criminal charges, because the right to freedom of expression and the right to petition are guaranteed by the constitution. Yet, they were charged again."
Traditionally, Czechs and Slovaks have maintained very close and warm relations due to their common history when they lived together in Czechoslovakia. However, since Robert Fico’s SMER Party won the elections last year, relations have cooled significantly. This is mainly due to the often pro-Russian rhetoric of the Slovak government in the context of the war in Ukraine. Its efforts to place all public cultural institutions and media under strict political control have further exacerbated the situation. Czech Radio recently officially suspended cooperation with the new Slovak Television and Radio, which, after the Slovak parliament passed a new law, lost its independence and is now controlled by the government.
