News

Russia’s Presidential Human Rights Council has accused the creators of the Oscar-winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin of using footage of minors without parental consent. According to AFP, this marks Moscow’s first official response to the film, which criticizes the ideological indoctrination of Russian schoolchildren. The documentary was produced as a Czech-Danish co-production.

The footage was recorded by director Pavel Talankin, who also appears in the film and previously worked as a teacher in Russia. His recordings document propaganda practices at a school in a city beyond the Ural Mountains, particularly in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Before fleeing Russia in 2024, the increasingly disillusioned teacher decided to document not only state-mandated activities but also everyday life at the school and beyond.

Irish police have recovered two gilded wooden reliquaries dating back to the 18th century, which experts believe were stolen nearly 30 years ago from a church in the Czech Republic. The news was reported by the Irish public broadcaster RTÉ, citing police sources. The report notes that churches in some parts of the Czech Republic were frequent targets of theft during the 1990s, and only now, decades later, are some of these valuable artifacts being returned. The Czech police are currently preparing a statement.

Irish detectives specializing in art and antiques crime were alerted to the items last year by Interpol, following a request from Czech authorities. The reliquaries were reportedly identified in an Irish auction catalogue by a former member of a Czech Ministry of Culture search team.

Police emphasized that no criminal investigation has been opened, as the individual who purchased and brought the items to Ireland did so in good faith.

Inflation in the European Union rose to 2.1% year-on-year in February, up from 2.0% in January, according to Eurostat. In contrast, the Czech Republic saw a slight decrease, with inflation dropping from 1.2% in January to 1.0% in February.

Eurostat uses harmonised data to ensure comparability across EU countries, which may differ from calculations by the Czech Statistical Office. Despite the recent divergence, inflation levels were higher a year ago, when both the EU and the Czech Republic recorded a rate of 2.7%.

The data highlights differing inflation trends within the EU, with the Czech Republic currently experiencing slower price growth compared to the overall European average.

Czechia has joined several EU countries calling for stricter visa rules for Russian soldiers seeking entry into the Schengen Area, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said. The proposal is expected to be discussed at an upcoming European Council meeting. The initiative warns that former and current Russian soldiers could pose security risks, including links to crime or extremist movements. According to the letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, many recruits have combat experience or criminal backgrounds. Czech officials supported the proposal despite debate within the coalition, where some suggested extending restrictions to Ukrainian veterans.