News

The Czech energy giant ČEZ stopped on Wednesday disconnecting users suspected of stealing electricity. The company’s head, Martin Roman said such interventions in the past were in line with Czech law but admitted they did not always follow the firm’s code of ethics. ČEZ will now file lawsuits against customers suspected of stealing electricity, instead of immediately disconnecting them from the grid.

ČEZ has recently been criticized over harsh treatment of its customers who the company suspected of stealing electricity. Several media outlets also published video footage earlier this month depicting the paramilitary-style training of the firm’s anti-theft unit.

Historian Jiří Pernes is set to become the new director of the Czech Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, the institute’s spokesman said on Wednesday. The institute’s council chose Mr Pernes over four other candidates who applied for the post, including the institute’s current director, Pavel Žáček. Mr Žáček faced criticism over the publication of an article by one of the institute’s researchers which accused the writer Milan Kundera of collaborating with Czechoslovakia’s communist secret police, allegations rejected by Mr Kundera and questioned by other experts.

For the first time ever, Czech farmers will plant no flax this season due to dwindling demand. The country’s last industrial flax-growing plant near Polička, in eastern Bohemia, will close down by the end of May as a result, the company’s head said on Wednesday. While in 1991, flax was grown on 21,000 hectares, the plant was last year only grown on 148 hectares. In the early 1990s the Czech Republic had some 26 industrial flax-growing plants.

Archeologists began excavations Tuesday in a Prague church to find the remains of the 13th century Czech saint St. Agnes of Bohemia. The excavations are taking place at two locations near the altar of St Haštal’s Church where hopes have been raised that the remains could be found. A vault was discovered after part of the 19th century floor was removed at one point. The vault, however, appears to be from the Baroque period rather than the Middle Ages. St. Agnes, who was canonised a few days before the start of the Velvet Revolution in November 1989, was a noblewoman who renounced a life of wealth and comfort to found Franciscan Convent in Prague in 1232. Her remains are believed to have been hidden during the Hussite wars and were never rediscovered.