False news of Pavel's death came from Russia but specific perpetrator not identified

The misinformation that then-presidential candidate Petr Pavel had died on the night of January 26 from probable heart failure has been traced back to Russia, the Czech police announced on Twitter on Friday. However, the specific perpetrator could not be identified, so the case has been dismissed.

False news of Mr Pavel's death appeared on the Internet during the election period and was also spread via e-mail. The reports linked to a website with a fabricated statement allegedly from Pavel's spokesperson. Reports of his supposed death even reached some newsrooms.