Czech Foreign Ministry refuses to assist Night Wolves' ride

The Czech Foreign Ministry has dismissed Russia's request for assistance in the Night Wolves' ride across the Czech territory, adding that riders must apply for a permit themselves. The ministry said on Friday that it would be difficult to settle the application in time. Meanwhile, President Miloš Zeman said that he could see nothing bad about the planned ride, describing the reactions to it as "hysterical".

The Night Wolves, a motorcycle gang with close ties to the Kremlin, want to commemorate the victory of the Soviet troops over the Nazi Germany 70 years ago by a ride across Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria, ending in Berlin on May 9. They set off from Moscow on Saturday despite Poland's announcemnt that it would refuse to let them in the country.