Czech PM awards medals to diplomats, soldiers others involved in Afghanistan evacuation mission

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Wednesday awarded the Karel Kramář Medal to diplomats, soldiers and others who helped evacuate the Czech Embassy in Afghanistan last month.

At a ceremony held at the Liechtenstein Palace in Prague, he praised Ambassador to Afghanistan Jiří Baloun, his deputy Štěpán Konopásk, and embassy chief Zuzana Černá Vondráčková for their personal bravery and professionalism.

Mr Babiš also praised Lieutenant General Josef Kopecký, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Milan Schulc, and the Chief of the Operations Management Department, Colonel Josef Nejedlý, for planning and coordinating the evacuation.

Karel Kramář Medals were also presented to Libor Tomolya and Michal Malý, both captains of special military units that flew to Kabul three times in difficult conditions, and 18 soldiers and members of the Military Police.