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Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) on Saturday rejected Russian Ambassador to Prague Anna Ponomaryova’s claim that the Czech government had softened its anti-Russian rhetoric. Speaking at an election campaign event in the Přerov region, he told CTK that this was definitely not the case.

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists), however, agreed with the ambassador’s assessment. He told CTK that the current government was no longer engaging in what he described as the hysterical rhetoric of the previous cabinet, which he said had brought no benefit.

Ponomaryova said in an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti that Russia had noticed that the Czech government had toned down its anti-Russian rhetoric.

The Czech opposition has responded to the ambassador’s statement with concern.

Mayors and Independents leader Vít Rakušan said it was important for the government not to play down  the risks posed by Russia. Former Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský of the Civic Democratic Party described the ambassador’s assessment of Czechia’s foreign policy as “a disgrace” for the country.

Events commemorating the 90th anniversary of Václav Havel’s birth, which falls on October 5, are taking place across the Czech Republic .

Prague Castle is marking the anniversary with the multidisciplinary Havel ALIVE! festival. It presents Havel’s legacy as a source of inspiration for the present and highlights the continuing relevance of his ideas about freedom, democracy and the power of culture. From October to January, the festival will offer discussions, film screenings, concerts, educational programs for schools and teachers, and the Design for Václav Havel exhibition, prepared in cooperation with Designblok.

Czech Television organized a commemorative event at Havel’s former apartment on Prague’s Rašín Embankment. The program featured recollections of Havel by former friends and associates, among them scientist, Charter 77 signatory and wife of Ivan Havel, Dagmar Havlová; mathematician and activist Kamila Bendová; political scientist and Charter 77 signatory Daniel Kroupa; retired auxiliary Bishop of Prague and Charter 77 signatory Václav Malý; and photographer and Charter 77 signatory Ondřej Němec.

Havel’s literary work is also being heard on trams in Ostrava where students are reading excerpts from his writing as part of the Havel Literary Tram project.

Czech Radio is marking the anniversary with a series called Hearing Havel, which has been running since September 7 and will conclude on October 5, his birthday.

The Czech Centres network is also commemorating the anniversary abroad with numerous cultural events such as multi-day festivals featuring film marathons, theater, discussions, and children's creative workshops.

Hundreds of cars gathered at a tuning meet in a car park in Prague’s Čakovice district on Friday evening. Police are overseeing security and will deal with any offences.

Police said on Tuesday that an illegal gathering of up to thousands of tuning cars, called “Europe illegal season end 2026”, was planned in Prague and Brno at the weekend. Police learned about the planned events mainly through social media and have prepared extensive security measures.

The Thalia Awards will be presented to 20 laureates at Prague’s National Theatre on Saturday evening. The awards recognise outstanding stage performances in Czech theatre in drama, opera, ballet, dance and physical theatre, as well as musicals, operettas and related genres, this time for performances between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Since 2020, the awards have also recognised outstanding stage performances in alternative and puppet theatre as separate categories.

The organisers, the Actors’ Association, announced in mid-September that the Thalia Award for lifetime artistic achievement will go to Brno-based actress and teacher Zdena Herfortová, long-time Činoherní klub actor Petr Nárožný, former State Opera soloist Luděk Vele, ballet master and former National Theatre ballet soloist Nelly Danko, and, in the musical and dramatic genres, Studio Ypsilon ensemble member Jaroslava Kretschmerová.

The Thalia Award consists of a glass sculpture made by the Ajeto Lindava glassworks.