News
Former finance minister sent to prison
A Czech court of appeal has sent the former finance minister Ivo Svoboda and his close aide Barbora Snopkova to five years in prison for fraud. They were found guilty of having unlawfully transferred 6.5 million crowns to their own private companies from the now bankrupt pram manufacturer Liberta while they were on its board of directors. Svoboda is the first former cabinet minister to be served a prison sentence since the fall of communism.
Transparency urges PM to end speculation over his finances
Transparency International has called on the Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross to explain how he paid for his luxury flat in Prague. Recently the Czech daily Mlada Fronta Dnes pointed out that Mr. Gross could not have purchased his luxury home from his own or his wife's income and urged the Prime Minister to say where he'd got the money. Despite considerable pressure from the media the Prime Minister has refused to disclose the source of his finances. Transparency said the open questions and speculation surrounding the case were damaging the whole Cabinet and adding to the perception of the Czech Republic as a country with a high rate of corruption.
Czech Foreign Ministry urges release of Azeri national
The Czech Foreign Ministry has urged the release of an Azeri national who has been granted political asylum in the Czech Republic. Professor Sadai Nazarov, an aide to the former Azeri prime minister Sarat Huseynov, fled to the Czech Republic in the mid 1990's after the regime of president Heydar Aliyev accused Huseynov of planning a coup. He was granted political asylum three years later. Nazarov was arrested in Azerbaijan several days ago on a visit to his homeland. The Czech Foreign Ministry has called for "a humanitarian approach and a speedy resolution to the case", stressing that Nazarov is under the Czech Republic's protection.
Czechs join conference on Roma minority in Sofia
A Czech delegation will join leaders from eight central and eastern European countries in Sofia, Bulgaria on Wednesday for a conference aimed at improving the life of the Roma minority in this part of the world. The meeting is an unprecedented effort to fight illiteracy, unemployment and isolation of one of Europe's largest minorities.
US criticizes Czech military for purchases made without tender
The United States has criticized the Czech military for buying an artillery radar and a mobile anti-aircraft missile complex without a tender. According to the daily Hospodarske Noviny the US embassy in Prague sent the Czech Defence Ministry a letter expressing concern about the purchases. A Defence Ministry spokesperson said the purchases had been made without a tender since the law on public orders did not require one. The choice was reportedly made on the recommendation of a team of experts.
Belohlavek to become chief conductor of BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek will replace Leonard Sladkin as chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He will take up the position in mid 2006. Jiri Belohlavek is a leading figure among Czech conductors. His career has led from a regular engagement with the Brno State Philharmonic, via the position of chief conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra and long years of collaboration with the Czech Philharmonic. He has made regular appearances as guest conductor with outstanding symphonic ensembles all over the world, such as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony.
Weather:
Wednesday is expected to be cloudy to overcast with scattered snow showers and day temperatures between minus 2 and plus 2 degrees Celsius.
