President Pavel promotes ten men to general ranks

President Petr Pavel promoted ten men to general ranks at Prague Castle on Friday on the occasion of Victory Day. Eight were appointed brigadier generals, while two others received the rank of major general. The promotions were made on the recommendation of the government.

Among the newly promoted brigadier generals are special forces chief Tomáš Krampla and Antonín Genser, deputy commander of the Territorial Forces. Jan Pavlíček, deputy director of the Security Information Service, or BIS, was also promoted to a general rank.

Pavlíček’s promotion drew criticism from the Czech Confederation of Political Prisoners because of his past links to the former communist-era secret police, the StB. Czech presidents traditionally promote military, police and fire service officers to general ranks twice a year, on May 8 and October 28.